MacAskill: why I released Lockerbie bomber
Updated on 24 August 2009
The Scottish justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, defends his decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi as the Scottish Parliament is recalled.
After facing fierce criticism over his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber, the Scottish parliament was recalled for an emergency meeting to hear the justice secretary give a 20 minute statement about his decision. His statement came after speculation about Brown's silence on the Megrahi affair.
"I believe it is appropriate to lay out the basis and the reasoning of my decision," he began, describing the Lockerbie bombing as a "heinous crime" in many were "cruelly murdered".
"A prisoner transfer application was submitted by the government of Libya, seeking the transfer of Mr al-Megrahi ... he also sought to be released on compassionate grounds," MacAskill said.
"The applications had been lawfully made and I was obliged to address them. Final advice from my officials was given late on Friday 14 August 2009. I reflected upon that advice before making and announcing my decisions.
"It was my responsibility to decide upon these two applications, these were my decisions, and my decision alone. In considering these applications, I strictly followed due process."
"I listened to many representations and received substantial submissions. I have already published key material on both applications for prisoner transfer and compassionate for release. I will now look to publish other relevant material. Some of this can only be done with the permission of others which we are now seeking."
After praising the emergency services who dealt with the aftermath of the bombing, and those involved in the subsequent trial, MacAskill said: "Mr al-Megrahi has since withdrawn his appeal against both conviction and sentence.
"As I've said consistently throughout, that is a matter for him and the courts. That was his decision. My decisions were predicated on the fact that he was properly investigated, a lawful conviction passed, and a life sentence imposed."
