Campaigner Jim Swire says new Lockerbie inquiry 'long overdue'
The father of a Lockerbie bomb victim says a new inquiry into the biggest mass murder in Scottish history is "long overdue."
- By David Clegg, political reporter
- Published in the Courier : 27.10.10
- Published online : 27.10.10 @ 08.13am
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the blast, said relatives of the victims were still being denied their "inalienable right" to the truth about the tragedy.
He was talking as he handed in a petition to Holyrood demanding a full review into the conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
Fellow Justice for Megrahi members Cardinal Keith O'Brien, ex-policeman Ian McKie and top lawyer Professor Robert Black QC also joined the delegation to submit the 1500-strong petition to the parliament.
All four men said they are convinced major questions still need to be answered over the December 1988 tragedy that killed 270 people.
"It has been evident since the completion of the original trial that there appears to be flaws in the evidence which call into question the fairness of the trial under Scots law," said Dr Swire.
"Meanwhile many had reviewed the trial for themselves and concluded that the verdict had been subject to political pressure and was not justified.
"We believe that Mr Megrahi and his family are already long overdue a full review of this verdict and that the reputation of Scotland's justice system demands it.
Inalienable right
"The relatives of the Lockerbie dead have an inalienable right to the whole truth — a right which some of them find to be obstructed by the uncertainty surrounding this verdict."
Cardinal O'Brien, the leader of Scotland's Catholics, said he had joined the campaign after US senators criticised the Scottish Government's decision to release Megrahi on medical grounds.
"Jim Swire has been making appeals for justice, to find out exactly what went on," he said. "He has been supported by very many high-profile people.
"I agreed to join with him to try to do something myself to see that justice has been achieved, not just for Megrahi but for people like Jim Swire and the families, to find out what is the real truth."
Cardinal O'Brien said he was "most upset" when the US Senate tried to force Scottish ministers to attend a hearing over Megrahi's release. He said that was "quite beyond their remit."
"I am concerned with basic justice, to find out exactly what went on," he added. "I want the truth and I am speaking for many, many people who are desperate to know what went on at that time.
"I want justice for Megrahi and for all of the innocent people who are grieving and who want to draw a line under that episode."
Meanwhile Professor Black said Megrahi's appeal could continue after his death.
He said the Appeal Court would be unlikely to reopen the case while he was alive but others could take it up subsequently.
"Technically it is open to anyone to raise the question of an appeal," he said. "Once he is no longer with us the court may take a different view."
04.33pm - 27.10.2010 Tom Minogue - Dunfermline, Fife Report This
Every fibre of Dr Swire's body must have hoped that after viewing the whole trial the court would get it right. <br /> The court didn't but the US government paid the key witness Gauci $2 million to testify. Swire has campaigned for the truth ever since. What an indictment on our justice system.
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