Daphne Caruana Galizia
Maltese journalist and anti-corruption activist assassinated in 2017.
Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese writer, journalist, blogger, and anti-corruption activist. She was born on 26 August 1964 and died on 16 October 2017. She gained international recognition for her work on the Panama Papers and for being killed by a car bomb. Her reputation, both in Malta and abroad, came from her consistent reporting on wrongdoing by Maltese politicians and other politically connected individuals. Over the years, she faced intimidation, threats, libel suits, and other legal actions, but she kept publishing. She was arrested twice by the Malta Police Force.
Caruana Galizia focused on investigative journalism, covering government corruption, nepotism, patronage, and allegations of money laundering. She also reported on links between Malta’s online gambling industry and organized crime, the country’s citizenship-by-investment scheme, and payments from the government of Azerbaijan. She published her investigations on her blog, *Running Commentary*, which she started in 2008. She was a regular columnist for *The Sunday Times of Malta* and later *The Malta Independent*. Her blog mixed investigative reporting with commentary, some of which was seen as personal attacks, leading to several legal disputes. In 2016 and 2017, she revealed sensitive information and allegations about Maltese politicians and the Panama Papers scandal.
On 16 October 2017, a car bomb exploded in her vehicle near her home, killing her. The attack drew widespread condemnation locally and internationally. In December 2017, three men were arrested in connection with the bombing. In November 2019, police arrested Yorgen Fenech, owner of the Dubai-based company 17 Black, on his yacht in connection with her murder. Fenech now faces criminal charges related to 17 Black, following a magisterial inquiry into plans for the company to secretly pay millions to government figures named in the Panama Papers.
In April 2018, a group of 45 journalists from around the world launched The Daphne Project, a collaboration to finish Caruana Galizia’s investigative work. The GUE/NGL Award for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information was created in 2018 in her honor.
**Early life and education** Daphne Anne Vella was born on 26 August 1964 in Sliema, Malta, which was then under British colonial rule. She was the eldest of four daughters of businessman Michael Alfred Vella and his wife Rose Marie Vella (née Mamo). She attended St Dorothy’s Convent in Mdina and St Aloysius’ College in Birkirkara. Later, as a mature student, she studied at the University of Malta, earning a BA (Hons) in archaeology with a minor in anthropology in 1997. She was on the Dean’s List in 1996. She became involved in politics in her late teens; at age 18, she was arrested for taking part in anti-government protests. The officer who arrested her, Angelo Farrugia, later became Speaker of the Parliament of Malta. In 1985, she married lawyer Peter Caruana Galizia, a grandson of John Caruana and a great-grandson of E. L. Galizia and A.A. Caruana. They had three sons: Matthew, Andrew, and Paul. Matthew worked for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The family moved from Sliema to Bidnija, a hamlet near Mosta, in 1990.
**Career** Caruana Galizia started working as a news reporter for *The Sunday Times of Malta* in 1987. She was a regular columnist there from 1990 to 1992 and again from 1993 to 1996. In 1992, she became an associate editor of *The Malta Independent* and continued as a columnist for that paper and *The Malta Independent on Sunday* for the rest of her career. She also worked in media and public relations consultancies. She was the founding editor of *Taste* and *Flair*, monthly lifestyle magazines that came with *The Malta Independent on Sunday*. These were merged into a single magazine, *Taste&Flair*, in July 2014, and she edited it until her death. The magazine is now published by The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation. She started her blog *Running Commentary* in March 2008, which featured investigative reporting and commentary on current affairs and public figures. It became one of the most popular websites in Malta, regularly getting over 400,000 views—more than the combined circulation of the country’s newspapers.
Caruana Galizia faced intimidation for her work. In 1996, her front door was set on fire. Her family dog had its throat slit and was left on her doorstep. Years later, a neighbor’s car was burned, possibly in a misdirected attack. In 2006, her house was set on fire while the family was asleep inside. After she started blogging, her terrier Zulu was poisoned, and her collie Rufus was put down after being found shot. According to her son Matthew, threats were almost daily, coming through phone calls, letters, notes on the door, text messages, emails, and blog comments. She was arrested on 8 March 2013 for breaking the political silence on the day before the 2013 general election, after posting videos mocking Joseph Muscat. She was questioned and released after a few hours. In November 2010, after commenting on the conservation of Villa Guardamangia (the early home of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip), *The Daily Telegraph* described her as Malta’s leading commentator. Other major stories involved the Panama Papers and allegations that Chris Cardona had visited a brothel.
- born
- 26 August 1964, Sliema, Malta (then under British colonial rule)
- died
- 16 October 2017, nearby her home in Bidnija, Malta
- field
- Investigative journalism, blogging, anti-corruption activism
- nationality
- Maltese
- known_for
- Panama Papers investigation, assassination by car bomb
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Daphne Anne Vella was born on 26 August 1964 in Sliema, Malta (then under British colonial rule), the eldest of four daughters. She was educated at St Dorothy's Convent (Mdina) and St Aloysius' College, Birkirkara. She attended the University of Malta as a mature student and took a BA (Hons) in archaeology with a minor in anthropology in 1997, featuring on the Dean's List in 1996. In 1985, she married lawyer Peter Caruana Galizia, a grandson of John Caruana and a great-grandson of E. L. Galizia and A.A. Caruana. The couple had three sons, Matthew, Andrew and Paul. The family left Sliema in 1990, moving to Bidnija, a hamlet in the limits of Mosta. Caruana Galizia was employed by The Sunday Times of Malta as a news reporter in 1987, becoming a regular columnist from 1990 to 1992 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was an associate editor of The Malta Independent in 1992, and remained a columnist with that newspaper and The Malta Independent on Sunday for the rest of her career. In March 2008, she began a blog entitled Running Commentary, which included investigative reporting and commentary on current affairs and public figures. The blog was one of the most popular websites in Malta, regularly attracting over 400,000 views – more than the combined circulation of the country's newspapers. Caruana Galizia was intimidated for her work and opinions. The front door of her house was set on fire in 1996. The family dog had its throat slit and was laid across her doorstep. Years later, the neighbour's car was burned, possibly in a misdirected attack. There was a further incident in 2006, when the house was set on fire while the family was asleep inside. After Caruana Galizia started blogging, her terrier Zulu was poisoned, and her collie Rufus was put down after being found shot. According to Matthew Caruana Galizia, threats were almost a daily occurrence. She was arrested on 8 March 2013 for breaking the political silence on the day before the 2013 general election, after posting videos mocking Joseph Muscat. On 22 February 2016, Caruana Galizia's Running Commentary blog reported that Maltese government minister Konrad Mizzi had connections with Panama and New Zealand. The April 2016 Panama Papers leak confirmed that Mizzi owned the Panama company Hearnville Inc., and that Mizzi and Schembri had also started another company, Tillgate Inc. In 2017, she alleged that Egrant, another Panama company, was owned by Michelle Muscat, wife of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The title of her last blog post before she was killed read, "That crook Schembri was in court today, pleading that he is not a crook", ending with the line "there are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate." On 16 October 2017, Caruana Galizia was assassinated nearby her home when a car bomb was detonated inside her vehicle.
Reader's Guide
Daphne Caruana Galizia's significance lies in her role as a relentless investigative journalist who exposed high-level corruption in Malta, particularly through her coverage of the Panama Papers. On 22 February 2016, she broke news of Maltese government minister Konrad Mizzi's connections with Panama and New Zealand, compelling him to reveal a New Zealand-registered trust two days later. Two days after that, she revealed that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's chief of staff Keith Schembri owned a similar trust. The April 2016 Panama Papers leak confirmed these connections. She was subsequently named by Politico as one of "28 people who are shaping, shaking and stirring Europe," describing her as a "one-woman WikiLeaks, crusading against untransparency and corruption in Malta."
Her work prompted international attention and led to the resignation of government officials after her death. In December 2017, three men were arrested in connection with the car bomb attack. Police arrested Yorgen Fenech, the owner of the Dubai-based company 17 Black, on his yacht on 20 November 2019 in connection with her murder. Fenech is currently facing criminal charges in connection with 17 Black, following the closure of a magisterial inquiry into plans for 17 Black to pay millions to government figures identified in the Panama Papers via secret offshore structures. In April 2018, an international consortium of 45 journalists published The Daphne Project, a collaboration to complete Caruana Galizia's investigative work. The GUE/NGL Award for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information was established in 2018 in honour of Galizia.
Did You Know?
- Caruana Galizia was arrested when she was 18 years old following participation in anti-government protests; the policeman who arrested her, Angelo Farrugia, went on to become the Speaker of the Parliament of Malta.
- Her blog Running Commentary regularly attracted over 400,000 views – more than the combined circulation of the country's newspapers.
- She was the founding editor of Taste and Flair, monthly lifestyle magazines distributed along with The Malta Independent on Sunday, which were merged into Taste&Flair in July 2014.
- In May 2017, Pilatus Bank's owner Ali Sadr Hasheminejad sued her for US$40 million in damages in an Arizona court; the case was withdrawn within hours of her death.
- The title of her last blog post before she was killed read: 'That crook Schembri was in court today, pleading that he is not a crook', ending with 'there are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Daphne Caruana Galizia?
She was a Maltese investigative journalist, blogger, and anti-corruption activist who spent decades exposing political misconduct in Malta. Born in Sliema in 1964, she became one of the most prominent independent voices in Maltese public life before her death in 2017.
What was Daphne Caruana Galizia's main role or field?
Her work centered on investigative journalism and blogging, where she consistently reported on wrongdoing by Maltese politicians and other politically connected figures. She also worked as an anti-corruption activist, pushing for accountability in her home country.
How does Daphne Caruana Galizia's story end?
On 16 October 2017, she was killed when a car bomb detonated near her home in Bidnija, Malta. Her assassination shocked the international community and triggered a long-running investigation into who ordered and carried out the attack.
Why is Daphne Caruana Galizia important?
She showed that a single persistent journalist could hold an entire political establishment accountable, even while facing intimidation, threats, and waves of libel lawsuits. Her legacy went on to inspire anti-corruption movements across Malta and the wider world.
What was Daphne Caruana Galizia most known for?
She gained international recognition for her reporting on the Panama Papers and for years of exposing corruption among Maltese political figures. Her assassination by car bomb in 2017 made her a global symbol of the dangers faced by independent journalists.
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