Prime Minister Robert Abela has categorically distanced himself from “hateful” and hurtful comments directed towards Daphne Caruana Galizia and her family in the hours following the Yorgen Fenech verdict.Asked during a press conference about comments posted by bloggers following the verdict, Abela immediately responded: “I distance myself completely from these people.”The Prime Minister said he has “immense respect” for Daphne’s husband Peter and her sons, stressing that the pain experienced by the family remains as real today as when Caruana Galizia was assassinated. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)“The least we can do is, in our comments, reflect their pain and not add to it,” Abela said. “Let’s empathise with the family. They’re in pain.”When specifically asked about comments by former Labour government official Neville Gafà, Abela reiterated his position, saying he condemns all forms of negative and hurtful commentary regardless of who makes them.“These hurtful comments do not reflect our society,” he said.•