MSP convinced Lockerbie bomber victim of miscarriage of justice

Published on Friday 8 May 2009 15:02

The Libyan convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is in deteriorating health and "absolutely desperate" to see his family, an MSP said today.

But Christine Grahame, who met Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi in Greenock Prison today, refused to say if he intends to abandon his appeal now under way in Edinburgh.

Libyan authorities have applied for Al Megrahi to be moved to Libya under a prisoner transfer treaty between that country and the UK.

But no decision on this can be made by Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill if there are outstanding legal proceedings.

Ms Grahame, SNP MSP for South of Scotland, paid an hour-long visit to Al Megrahi today in Greenock Prison, where he is serving a life sentence for the 1988 bombing which killed 270 people.

Emerging from the prison, Ms Grahame said: "I found it quite upsetting.

"The man is obviously very ill and he is desperate to see his family – absolutely desperate to see his family – so, whatever it takes, that's the priority."

She went on: "He did tell me things I can't discuss with you.

"But I am absolutely more convinced than ever that there has been a miscarriage of justice."

Asked if Al Megrahi plans to press on with his appeal, she said: "I can't say that – that is for him to say through his lawyers."

But she again stressed his anxiety to see his wife and children.

"I can just tell you what he told me – that his priority is to see his family."

Al Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and later failed to be freed on bail pending his appeal, which finally got under way last Tuesday in Edinburgh.

Ms Grahame said: "His health is deteriorating, he was pretty upset and he is a man who wants to see his family."

With his health worsening, Al Megrahi believed he had only "a short time to go", Ms Grahame said.

"It was all about his family – we did talk about other matters but it kept coming back to the importance of family."

Al Megrahi did not tell her how long he expected to live, nor did he offer an opinion on the move by Libyan authorities, said Ms Grahame.

But she also said he wanted to clear his name.

"That is essential to him as well," she said.

"Other matters I can't discuss with you because it would prejudice anything else."

Ms Grahame has previously said that if his appeal was abandoned there should be a public inquiry, and today she repeated that view.

She said Al Megrahi know a lot about the Lockerbie case.

"This man has lived this case for the last decade, he knows more about it probably than any other person on the planet.

"He is well-informed but his priority is his family.

"The man is an able man but he is a man who is terminally ill and missing his family as we all would. He wants to die at home with his family."