The outgoing Maltese ambassador to Ireland has defended his handling of a case in which his 35-year-old son was investigated for an alleged attack on a woman in Dublin last October.
Richard Muscat, who was the ambassador to Ireland for eight years until his resignation last Saturday, apologised to the woman at the centre of the case and said the Irish media had made it impossible for him to stay.
"We feel completely surrounded by hounds," he said of the media in an interview with NewsTalk radio. "There is a kind of viciousness in the wording of the articles, not only here by the tabloids in Ireland but unfortunately there are also those in Malta, who seem to be also sharing the spoils, you know."
Christina Leech-Cleary (20), a student at Trinity College Dublin, said the diplomat's son had attempted to drag her into Herbert Park in Donnybrook and tried to put his hand down her top before she escaped.
She contacted the Garda and he was arrested and questioned. However, she said gardaí told her that because her alleged attacker was a diplomat's son, he was immune from prosecution.
Mr Muscat confirmed there was an incident between his son and Ms Leech-Cleary. However, he described it as a "minor innocent approach". He also said he never invoked his son's diplomatic immunity in the case.
Mr Muscat conceded that his ministry in Malta was unaware of the matter when it extended his term as ambassador. However, while he regretted not informing it, he believed the matter did not arise because his son had not been charged. He insisted his son would be available to come to Ireland if the matter reached the courts here.