Law change will allow Lockerbie files' release

Published on Sunday 15 May 2011 19:58

NEW laws to allow the publication of Lockerbie files are to be brought in by the SNP.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was jailed for life for the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which exploded in the skies above the Scottish town, killing 270 people.

The SNP wants to change the law to allow the publication of papers from the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC), which said there were six grounds where it believed a miscarriage of justice may have occurred.

That paved the way for Megrahi's second appeal, which he dropped shortly before he was released on compassionate grounds in August 2009, after he was given three months to live.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision to release the bomber prompted fury in the United States and made headlines around the world.

At present the release of the SCCRC papers can be blocked by one or more of the parties who gave evidence to the review. Mr MacAskill said the SNP plans to bring forward new legislation.

First Minister Alex Salmond said in February that he would change the law if the SNP won a second term.

Mr MacAskill said yesterday: "This is something the new SNP government will do in early course. We have always been as transparent as possible.

"And following the announcement last December that the SCCRC was unable to secure the necessary consents to release its statement of reasons in the Megrahi case due to current legislation, we now intend to bring forward primary legislation to overcome those problems presented by the consent provisions."

But Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker voiced concerns over the announcement.

He said: "We need to know what Kenny MacAskill's reason for this change in the law is.

"He has always maintained that Megrahi was properly convicted by a Scottish court and that he had no reason to doubt his guilt.

"Now he appears to be casting doubt on his own assertion, and if that is the case, then Mr MacAskill needs to explain whether that influenced his decision to grant compassionate release."