The Sunday Tribune has also learned that the Maltese authorities have informed the Department of Foreign Affairs that they are waiving diplomatic immunity in relation to the ambassador's son. It is understood that there has been continuous contact between the department and the Maltese embassy in recent months.

The ambassador, Richard Muscat, categorically denied yesterday that he used his diplomatic status to save his son Massimo from charges of sexual assault. However, there had also been suggestions that immunity was claimed shortly after his son's arrest but later waived when Massimo Muscat agreed to give a full statement to gardai.

"I am the ambassador and I can confirm that I never invoked or considered diplomatic immunity, " Muscat said last week. "Justice has been left to proceed in its normal way from the start."

Muscat's denial followed numerous reports last week that he had invoked diplomatic immunity after his son was accused of attacking two women last October. One of the women who was allegedly attacked, Trinity College student Christina Leech-Cleary, spoke out after being told by gardai that no charges would be brought against Massimo Muscat because he had diplomatic immunity.

Leech-Cleary described how a man grabbed her and put his hand down her top when she was walking down a street in Dublin 4 last October.

He then tried to drag her into Herbert Park but finally released her when she continued to scream and struggle.

The 20-year-old student said that by the time she had alerted gardai, the man had attacked another woman on the road. Gardai informed Leech-Cleary that the case would not reach the courts.

Richard Muscat also flatly denied that his son carried out any sexual assaults. "He was interviewed by the police and he contradicted the allegations made against him, " he said.

"Massimo denied that he ever made a sexual assault."

The ambassador also said that, while he could understand why the two alleged victims had been frightened by the incidents, his son intended no harm.

"Unfortunately my son has a medical condition, " he told a newspaper yesterday. "He is receiving treatment and he is dependent on me and my wife. He goes with us wherever we go."