Father’s plea to Bafta: Don’t give award to STV film on Lockerbie
Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter in the Lockerbie terrorist attack. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
THE father of one of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing has complained to Bafta over the nomination of an STV documentary on the atrocity for a current affairs award.
Jim Swire, who lost his daughter, Flora, when Pan Am Flight 103 went down, has written to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts objecting that the programme, The Lockerbie Bomber: Sent Home to Die, has been put up for an award.
When it was broadcast in August last year, the film drew criticism from Dr Swire and SNP MSP Christine Grahame.
Both believe that the man convicted of the mass murder of the 270 people who died, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
Dr Swire’s complaint centres on the film repeating the claim that the bomb had been carried on to an Air Malta flight before it was loaded on to Pan Am Flight 103.
He disputes the central thesis of the Crown case, which was based on the belief that a bomb had been loaded on to an Air Malta aircraft at Luqa airport.
In his letter to Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), Dr Swire claimed the film’s “facile acceptance of the theory that the Lockerbie bomb had been carried on an Air Malta flight (KM180) was actionable”.
“May I point out that this programme was based upon the official version of how the Lockerbie bombing came about and who was responsible, without any apparent attempt to question what we, as citizens, are expected to accept from ‘the authorities’,” Dr Swire wrote.
“As such, it seems that this programme could not be regarded as investigative journalism, which one would have expected from a documentary on such a subject.”
He added: “Indeed, I had occasion to write to STV about this programme, pointing out that its facile acceptance of the theory that the Lockerbie bomb had been carried on an Air Malta flight (KM180) was actionable.”
Dr Swire bases his “actionable” assertion on a civil case that resulted from a Granada TV documentary made two years after the 1988 bombing.
In the Granada documentary, there was a dramatic reconstruction in which a bag containing a bomb was loaded on to an Air Malta flight by a sinister-looking Arab, who then sloped off without boarding.
Upset by the damage to its reputation, Air Malta sued Granada TV. The airline’s solicitors compiled a dossier of evidence demonstrating that all the bags checked on to that flight had been accompanied by passengers and none had travelled on to London.
Granada settled out of court.
“I am a relative of one of the Lockerbie murder victims and I would strongly object to Bafta giving recognition to the STV programme,” Dr Swire wrote.
“Bafta (Scotland) might give an evening of joy to STV, we have a lifetime to face without those we loved, and we intend to get to the real facts, to which we have every right.”
An STV spokesman said: “We are confident that the STV documentary The Lockerbie Bomber: Sent Home to Die, reported the facts of the case, as legally established in court.”
A spokesman for the Crown Office declined to comment on specific details raised by Dr Swire.
But the spokesman said: “Lockerbie remains an open inquiry concerning the involvement of others with Mr Megrahi in the murder of 270 people.
“The Crown will continue to pursue lines of inquiry that become available, and as the investigation remains live and in order to preserve the integrity of that investigation, it would not be appropriate to offer further comment.”
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Comments
There are 31 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Lachie Mhor
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 07:40 PMWhat is the problem with showing the film. It may cast some light on the Lockerbie disaster. Doctor Swire is not the only person involved in this matter, nor was he the only person to loose a close relative. It is perhaps time that he stood back and let others comment on this matter.
Tartancult
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 08:18 PM#29 I have demonstrated that no Libyan was involved in Lockerbie"_____________Aye, of course you have, now just take this wee pill and lie down.
CharlesNorrie
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:01 AMI too have complained to BAFTA. Any account based on a reprise of the official story is useless, as the official story has almost no truth in it. I have demonstrated that no Libyan was involved in Lockerbie, and the plot originally intended to blame the pFLP GC, and only turned on Libya when that story became impossible to proceed with. This is where I part company with Dr Swire who still believes the group is something to do with it. But it is demonstrable that Pan Am 103 was the revenge Iran demanded and got for the deliberate shooting down of the Iranian Airbus by the Vincennes. I have the plot completely worked out, if any film maker cares to approach me.
Finnzz
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 05:16 PMWith Dr Swire being one of the few interested parties that actually come out of this whole dispicable affair with any dignity, it is of great importance that his voice is kept to the forefront of any such discussion for no better reason than to ensure truth prevails.
Keyser Sauzey
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 02:40 PMI am astonished by some of the opinions expressed on this topic. Mr Swire is an honourable man, of that there is no doubt. Mr Swire's voice should be listened to for two reasons: 1) He lost a family member in this atrocity 2) He has steadfastly and diligently concerned himself with the facts of this case and has followed where these facts have led him. What is more, probably due to Mr Swire's dignity, perserverance and corroboration by other experts, it has now reached the point where the majority know that Scotland's Crown Office were involved in a plan to defeat the ends of justice. An unpalatable truth. So, to the sickly-sweet apologists for the status quo, who think that by calling Mr Swire's character into question will somehow deflect people from the 'truth'? Your ship has already sunk. (0|0) Keyser Sauzey
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 01:34 AMThus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me....sleep in peace, auld yin.
Peripatetic Pensioner
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 12:22 AMI think that there are far too many flamers on this subject, making what was an horrific night for me and many others into a vehicle for their self aggrandizement.
Electric Hermit
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 11:36 PM16 Faceless_bureaucrat "Swire has set the cause of the Lockerbie families back decades" - What "cause" is that? I'd have thought the families overriding interest would be in finding the truth. Nobody has put in more effort in this regard than Jim Swire. It seems that you may be one of those who would prefer that nobody ask any awkward questions.
Electric Hermit
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 11:32 PM10 thegenuinemarioantionette "For the avoidance of doubt, I emphasise with Mr Swire..." - The word is "empathise", you idiot. So much for your qualifications as a psychologist competent to offer an analysis of Jim Swire's motives.
Electric Hermit
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 11:30 PM9 thegenuinemarioantionette - Your sad little diatribe against Jim Swire says infinitely more about you than it does about him.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 10:27 PMQuite often the truth stares us straight in the face - but we don't always see it.
True Scot
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 10:16 PMLet the Bafta panel judge thev film on its merits.
Selgovae
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 09:41 PM#14 "he just wants the truth . That though does not make his position right and proper." I find it hard to think of a more right and proper position than wanting to know the truth.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 08:40 PMUnderstanding the human psyche can be a complex matter. One or two commentators - you know who you are - seem to think that being of a presentable, respectable, decent personna makes that person immune to mental illness & associated issues. Mr Swire has, for some considerable time, suffered unbearable anguish & torture & the strain & anxiety on his personal well being cannot be underestimated. By all accounts, the Naked Rambler is also a presentable, respectable, decent person - & obessed & dedicated to pursuing an irrational goal & objective, not unlike the symptoms displayed by Mr Swire. If the Naked Rambler had titled himself as a Dr. or Professor, perhaps more credance would have been given to his argument ? Instead, society has banished him into oblivion - & branded him a lunatic.
Tartancult
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 07:36 PMLets see the wee film and then decide, eh?
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