A report into the release of the Lockerbie bomber criticised the handling of the decision as “botched"
Paul Gilbride - Express - 5th February 2010
A hard-hitting report into the release of the Lockerbie bomber yesterday criticised the handling of the decision as “botched”.
The divisive Holyrood inquiry found fault with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s visit to Abdelbaset Mohmen al-Megrahi in Greenock jail.
It also described a “lack of clarity” in the decision to grant compassionate release to the terminally ill Libyan, who was convicted for the murder of 270 people in the 1988 bombing.
The Justice Committee report said the visit to jail was “inappropriate” and that a second opinion should have been obtained on the medical evidence which paved the way for Megrahi’s release.
It also faulted the reasoning behind Mr MacAskill’s decision to reject a separate application for prisoner transfer to a Libyan jail.
The report follows Megrahi’s release last August on compassionate grounds, prompting an international storm of outrage.
In 2001 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that he should serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole.
He was released after Scottish Prison Service doctors said Megrahi, 57, who has prostate cancer, had fewer than three months to live.
Last night, Scottish Tory Justice spokesman Bill Aitken, said: “In going to Greenock Prison he put the biggest mass murderer in Scottish history on the same level as the relatives of the deceased. That was an insult to them.
“And the medical evidence should have been much more robust. The prognosis was clearly questionable.”
Labour leader Iain Gray said the decision to release Megrahi was the wrong one and was only made after a “completely botched” process.
He added: “This entire episode has damaged Scotland’s international reputation and unfortunately reflects the SNP’s attitude to victims of crime.”
But in an apparent reference to Mr MacAskill’s marriage break-up last year, which was thought to have been a result of work pressures, the committee agreed the decision was “taken in good faith” and acknowledged “the personal and political pressures he has had to contend with as a result”.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Justice Secretary followed due process every step of the way and he has repeatedly expressed his deepest sympathy for the relatives of all victims of the Lockerbie atrocity.”
See also:
US calls a truce in row over Megrahi release
Why I let Megrahi go - MacAskill
Megrahi releases Lockerbie appeal documents
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