Peter Ripard Dies at 89, Nearly 16 Years After Transport Malta Explosion

Major Peter Ripard, the road safety expert who lost a leg in a mysterious bomb explosion at Transport Malta’s offices in 2010, has died aged 89, Times of Malta reported.

Ripard died on Sunday at Mater Dei Hospital following a series of health problems, almost 16 years after the December 2, 2010 explosion that seriously injured him. The practical consequences of that injury remained built into daily life long after the headline faded. His children, Phyllis Sullivan, Angelica Delia and Peter Ripard, told Times of Malta that the people who helped their father while he was out became, in the family’s words, “angels”.

That is the grounded part of this story. A man known for road safety spent years relying on others to make ordinary movement possible. His children recalled that he would give helpers a thumbs-up, offer them a blessing and say, “thank you, kind sir”.

They remembered him for determination, resilience and faith. Times of Malta also reported that his wife, Lilliana, remained devoted to his care throughout his recovery, and that their carer, Mirabel, later took on much of that responsibility when Lilliana could no longer provide the same level of support.

With that support, the family said, Ripard remained determined to live as normally and positively as possible. That included annual holidays to Bavaria, which became an ongoing family tradition despite the difficulties caused by his injuries. Germany mattered to him because he had spent time there serving in the British Army before later joining the Armed Forces of Malta after independence.

His funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 13, at 9.30am at Jesus of Nazareth parish church in Sliema, followed by burial at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi.