Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1205478
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 JANUARY 2020 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA A cache of documents detailing the trials and tribulations of the Strickland family and their on- going battle with the Strickland Foundation, the largest share- holder in Allied Newspapers, has gone online. The website Mabelstrick- landlegacytherealstory.com in- cludes a comprehensive collec- tion of documents detailing the saga of Mabel Strickland's heir, Robert Hornyold-Strickland, the second largest shareholder in Allied Newspapers. Hornyold-Strickland insists his late aunt – daughter of Lord Ger- ald Strickland – was persuaded to change her will in 1979 by her testamentary executors, the late Prof. Guido de Marco and Prof. Joseph Ganado, while he was liv- ing in England. But now Hornyold-Strickland has been engaged in a court bat- tle with their sons – the Nation- alist MP Mario de Marco and Ganado Advocates partner Max Ganado – to release Strickland's legal files from their possesion, which he says will prove that his aunt had intended him to be the rightful owner of the Founda- tion's 78% shareholding in Allied Newspapers. The Court of Appeal has over- turned an earlier decision by the courts on the refusal by the Strickland Foundation, to re- lease the documents, saying that all files passed on to the Foun- dation must be disclosed to the courts and to the heir. Hornyold-Strickland wants the 78% majority shareholding returned to the estate, claiming that Mabel Strickland's key assets were improperly diverted into the control of De Marco and Ganado. Hornyold-Strickland insists that files relating to an improper transfer in 2010 of the majori- ty shareholding held in Allied Newspapers by the two men, to the Strickland Foundation, are also being withheld. These would include a valid instrument of transfer, and details of divi- dend payments on those shares since Strickland's death. The Foundation has previously argued that the files could not be handed over to the heir because of legal privilege the advocates owed to the deceased client. But the Court of Appeal ruled that "contrary to a common mis- conception, the relationship of professional confidentiality is intended not to protect lawyers but to protect their clients only." The Court of Appeal said that client privilege could not be in- voked in matters of inheritance and that the sole heir effectively stepped into the shoes of Mabel Strickland upon her death – making the heir 'the client', and therefore within his rights to request full disclosure of all the family documents withheld by the defendants. In her will, Strickland also be- queathed her Villa Parisio in Lija to the Foundation and granted Hornyold Strickland "the right of use and habitation of the guests rooms with bathroom and study at Villa Parisio, provided that the enjoyment of such right shall in no way intefere with the work of the foundation." But Hornyold Strickland insists that his rights extend to all the rooms in the villa and wants the court to order the Foundation to grant him possession of all these rooms. The Foundation claims the will limits him to "the guests rooms with bathroom and study at Villa Parisio provided that the enjoyment of such right shall in no way intefere with the work of the foundation." Strickland legal battle with Times newspaper's foundation goes online Robert Hornyold-Strickland Website sheds complete light on ongoing tussle between Allied's 78% owner – the Strickland Foundation – and second largest shareholder Robert Hornyold Strickland JEAN Claude Micallef will replace Konrad Mizzi as the government's nominee to head the parliamenta- ry delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Mizzi's nomination to the role was made in Par- liament on Monday, but, following a widespread backlash, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced this morning that it would be withdrawn. The motion was formally repealed in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, with Home Affairs Minis- ter Byron Camilleri saying that the government had decided to withdraw Mizzi's nomination af- ter there was a disagreement with the Opposition about it. Micallef's nomination will be announced in the coming hours, Camilleri said. Micallef was elected to Parliament in a casual election in 11 December to fill in the seat vacated by former equality ministern Helena Dalli on the third district. The government's U-turn came less than 24 hours after public outrage at the motion was sparked. Mizzi had come under fire repeatedly in 2016 after it he was revealed to have opened a secret company in Panama together with Keith Schem- bri, former chief of staff to Joseph Muscat. The companies are believed to be connected to Electorgas director and 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech, who now stands accused of being the mastermind behind the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination. Mizzi resigned as minister in November 2019, under the weight of the revelations surrounding Fenech's arrest. Jean Claude Micallef, not Konrad Mizzi, to head MP delegation Jean Claude Micallef