The Police Minister’s other driver, reinstated ex PC1144 Paul Vella, is known as Il-Machine Gun
Ex PC1144 Paul Vella – known as Pawlu l-Machine Gun – retired from the police corps some years ago but Manuel Mallia had him reinstated into the force, still as a police constable, when he was made Police Minister last year.
While on the police corps payroll, he serves as one of the Police Minister’s official drivers in GM14, drives him even when the minister is not on official business (he was seen dropping Manuel and Codruta Mallia off at the cinema on Sunday night, then driving off with one of their sons), and was seated by the car at St Edward’s College during parents’ day yesterday, while carrying his Glock.
An early photograph of Pawlu l-Machine Gun, one of Manuel Mallia’s current drivers.
The same photo on Pawlu L-Machine’s Facebook page, with a remark by Codruta Mallia
Pawlu L-Machine Gun as he is today
Pawlu L-Machine Gun, armed and waiting outside his master’s official car at St Edward’s College yesterday.
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Hmm, I think you’re just creating a storm in a teacup with this whole thing…He’s not the first man to shoot at another guy & don’t say it is different because he’s related to a minister etc…It doesn’t make a difference…Others did it before, so why the fuss? Why don’t you cover those stories too? I’m guessing you’re just trying to undermine the government whichever way you can…
Ahh, and by the way, I know you won’t be publishing this comment…Whenever I’m right or I counterattack your articles, you never publish the comments…Goes a long way to show how you manipulate the whole media and most of the empty ‘jars’ that follow you like a cult…
Is this guy serious? Storm in a teacup? It doesn’t make a difference that the minister’s driver is involved?
Daphne, this comment shouldn’t have been published for its sheer stupidity. It would be interesting to read one of El-Cardinero’s comments which you deleted in the past because he was right and counterattacked your articles.
Are YOU serious dumbo? So if you don’t agree with my comment, you won’t publish it? A clear cae where if you don’t agree with me, then I won’t have you have your say….You’re an utter idiot & your reasoning is more idiotic.
Aww sorry El-Cardinero! Did I hurt your feelings? It’s just that we are used to a certain level of intelligence on this blog, and your first comment didn’t quite match up.
No, my dear Space Bones. I do not agree at all.
Let El Cardinero have his say – if that is the way he chooses to show how hopelessly and utterly dumb he is.
There are still others like him around. I would encourage them to do their silly bit and regale us with their IQ.
There’s plenty of space for idiots – both on the ether and on the internet.
Your comment has been published. Waqajt ghan-nejk.
heh waqajt u ma waqajtx ghan-nejk l-aqwa li l-kumment gie ippubblikat…u nahseb iktar int waqajt ghan-nejk ghax ma fhimt xejn empty jar…
El-Cardinero what exactly would have to happen for you to call it a storm outside a teacup? Would love to know.
the point is not the gravity of the situation but the sheer coverage it is being given compared to similar cases.
Give us examples, and explain why they are ‘similar’, please. This regardless of whether or not, or why Daphne should ‘cover’ them, which is her absolute prerogative.
You are right in saying that he’s not the first man to shoot another guy but it’s surely the first time that the one shot at is arrested and the the one who shoots remains free as a bird.
Nor is it the first time a minister’s driver shot at something in public, and that time in 1986 was worse because he hit a man, and not just his car, and actually killed him. So the police couldn’t arraign the victim because he was dead, and the minister’s driver is still running free because the chief witness against him ended up mysteriously dead at the bottom of a shaft after being ‘chased’ by police.
Yes, people shoot others all the time, but who they are makes a difference. If Manuel Mallia decided to shoot somebody, maybe then you’d work out why this is.
Until then, keep voting Labour.
Well said .
I am sure she was delighted to oblige. Your name makes you out you be a Mexican. They have many storms in teacups in those parts.
Where’s your Glock? Do you keep it holstered under your left arm-pit? It must stink with that old, dried perspiration.
I hope that I will have the honour of being insulted by you.
This is a sarcastic comment for sure. Nobody is this stupid.
Wanna bet?
Is this guy a slice of ham short of a sandwich or what? Dumb doesn’t even begin to describe him.
but is does define you
No, I disagree with you.
Drivers of Ministers are on the public payroll and the public has every right to know certain details about all drivers. Now if we have a men hanging around with fire arms in public places as well as in the proximity of schools it is not a social norm.
In light of the previous events that have unfolded over the past few days, a man was re-instated within the Police corps as a constable and was carrying a gun with him while on duty with a Minister who is a career criminal lawyer. The said man has discharged a fire arm in public. We the people have every right to question the background of all other drivers and ensure that incidents like the ones involving Paul Sheehan do not repeat themselves.
Daphne is publicizing matters that pertain to another driver to flag the fact that even the second driver of Minister Mallia is, apparently, a fire arms enthusiast and apparently goes by the name of ‘Machine Gun’. We have the right to know who these people are and ensure that our streets are safe. If you think that this is not a social norm, then something wrong is the matter with your line of thought unless of course you endorse ‘Transporter’ wannabees in our country.
You don’t get it, don’t you? It is not your argument which is wrong, but your perception of the incident.
It is not only because a man shot another which makes this incident dangerous. It’s the fact that the government tried to cover it up BECAUSE OF WHO THAT MAN IS.
It’s the fact that the Minister responsible for the Police, Army and Public TV went on record, during a press conference, after SEVERAL hours after the incident, to give us a version of events which eye witnesses have proven to be completely false and untrue.
Let’s give Mallia the benefit of the doubt and say that he was advised badly. HOW COULD YOU TRUST A MINISTER WHO GOES ON RECORD, IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, WITH COMPLETELY WRONG FACTS.
Moreover, the Prime Minister decides to defend Mallia who made an ass of himself and worse by going in front of the cameras with the WRONG version of events.
I repeat, it is not only the shooting in itself which is scandalous (although this is bad enough) but the fact that the Minister tried to disseminate a version of events which are completely wrong and the fact that the Prime Minister defending wrong doing by one of his ministers.
On camera, he retracted his false press release of the night before, the night of the incident.
As a Minister of Government he abdicated his duty, or otherwise could not care less whether the previous night’s information was reliable or not. He thought the hit and run warning shot version suited him at the time.
By the morning he knew he had pushed the self destruct button. He summoned the Coconut and the Police Commissioner into a huddle, checked out version two and then went before the cameras making the best out the mess he was in.
El-Cardinero, you’re missing the whole point here about why this is not just a storm in a tea cup.
It is true that this is not the first man to shoot at another guy. And it is true that this should not be treated differently because the shooter happens to be a minister’s driver (although you must admit that it would put the said minister in bad light, at least, because it proves that said minister is not even capable of employing the right person).
However – the whole point here and the reason why this is not merely a storm in a teacup is the FACT that the said minister (and I’d say very stupidly backed by his PM) tried to cover up this whole mess, by lying to everyone and making an even bigger mess out of the situation.
I’m sure that you’ll agree that it would have been better for Mallia to simply apologise to everyone on behalf of his driver and explain that this was unacceptable and that the driver would face justice. It would not have cleared Mallia of his inherent responsibility as his boss, but I’m sure he would have been in a better place then where he is right now.
And this leads me to the next point on why this is not merely a storm in a teacup. The fact is that Mallia did not decide to act as suggested above, which is really the first natural reaction of any CEO/Manager when a subordinate fucks-up something (even though most end up resigning anyway). Instead Mallia thought only of hiding the facts and creating a false story. This exposes him as the natural sleazy character he is, who thinks that him and his entourage are above the law and can act with impunity. I’d say this is not storm in a teacup stuff!
The fact that he was caught red-handed and the whole mise-en-scène blew up in his face and now he (and his boss) are trying hard to find a scapegoat is irrelevant – it just adds to the entertainment factor to this sorry story.
Why bother explaining to someone whose brain consists of cells you can count on the fingers of one hand?
These type of IQ challenged species are not worth your time, Zarenu. They are incapable of absorbing anything beyond monosyllables.
No. El-Cardinero such haphazard reasoning won’t get you anywhere and if anything it’s completely off the point and out of context as such cases should never be justified, and yes being a ministerial driver makes it even worse. Why you may say ? Because he has the full responsibility towards his drivers employment.
Din tal-empty jar minn fej qlajta? Jaqaw spicalek l-marmalade?
I think he means ’empty vessel’ as in ’empty vessels make most sound’.
Hadtha r-risposta gardell
Well, you must be one of those empty ‘jars’ since you bothered commenting in the first place.
I think Daphne should send you the stats of her followers which she published recently. She is the only decent journalist in this country who is not afraid of doing her job and investigating matters further. Too many of the rest are crap on a salary.
Dan El-Cardinero qisu wiehed dilettant tal-ghasafar li lkoll nafu min hu.
Forsi
Forsi xi Messikan fejn sparar mill-pulizija w negazjanti tad-droga huma grajja ta kulljum u rikatt ta zaghzagh li jghibu w wara zmien jinsabu mitfuna f’oqbra tal-massa.
Le, ghax dak bhalissa busy hafna bil-Gloster Canaries Show.
Iva, “dak kien zmien” – tisparaw fuq in-Nazzjonalisti, ja zibel.
It’s not just the masters that have no clue where responsibility starts and decency lies. Those who elected them are no better.
And it’s not just the “nice pic hun” crowd either. This one seems “educated”.
I only hope there’s still enough “floaters” out there that we’ll eventually get some reprieve from all this madness.
Jidher indannat wahda sew miskin EL-Cardinero ha ha ! ma jifilhux jaqaw izjed ac – cajt imsieken dawn in nies . Mur ara kieku kien hu jew xi hadd mil familja tieghu malajr kien ighid storm in a tea cup . La verita offende .
indannat? ehh tidher li naqa nieqes/nieqsa ha nghidlek… tista’ tghidli ghalfejn ghandi nkun indannat?
Mahruq mill-lijder tieghek stess.
X’indannat! Indannat ta’ rasek.
Dak ferhan ghaliex iblah, miskin.
‘Dak Kien Zmien’ True, guess that time was under PN administration not MLP he is referring to.
Somebody noticed Codruta Mallia’s comment on that photo?
[Daphne – Yes, Karl. It’s right there in my post above. That’s exactly why I uploaded the picture twice, one of those times being to bring in Codruta Mallia’s comment.]
She must be bored as hell if her idea of fun is posting comments and smiley emoticons on her husband’s driver’s Facebook page, when she sees him every other day.
El-Cardinero, what similar cases? Other ministers’ drivers shooting at people in their cars?
Or the drivers of Home Affairs, Army and Police Ministers in other countries? Do explain.
The last time we had MGK ( Machine Gun Kelly’s) around a man was killed in Hal Safi PN club.
Not sure if your readers are pronouncing his moniker correctly. It should be read as Pawlu l-Maxijn Gann.
Storm in a teacup
As the caged sparrows burst free
M’ghandix dritt niekol?
U qed jiekol bhalissa, ha nghidlek. Ma nafx kif ma kielx ix-xufier ukoll.
Is it an AK47?
No, it’s a 7.62mm SLR, British version of the FN FAL. The Police SMU had about 20 of them.
Sounds lovely. Imagine how excited Emmanuel Mallia is at the sound of that.
No, it’s a 7.62mm SLR, British version of the FN FAL. The Police SMU had about 20 of them. It is still the ceremonial rifle used by the AFM.
El-Cardinero thinks a shooting is a shooting is a shooting, and that’s that. It’s the way they see it in the Wild West where El-Cardinero’s name would fit squarely in an novel or film of that genre.
Over here we attach a lot of importance to the nature and circumstances of the shooting. In the Mallia driver’s case we were not disgusted by the shooting itself but by the way it was handled, first by the Ministry (statement) then by the Minister himself and the Prime Minister who tried to play down the incident.
Expressing feelings of anger and disgust is simply not enough in a civilised, European state.
While it is true that people will choose the facts they want to hear, is it really that difficult for someone who reads and comments on this blog to realise that it is Minister Mallia and his Prime Minister, not Daphne, that is undermining the government by shooting themselves in the foot with their convoluted statements, arguments and cover-ups.