Father of Lockerbie victim 'proud' of doctors who assessed bomber

Published on Wednesday 31 March 2010 01:39

THE father of one of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing has said people should be ''proud'' of the doctors whose medical advice led to the mass murderer's release.

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was one of 270 people who died on board the Pan Am flight in 1988, believes radiotherapy and the drug Docetaxol have prolonged Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi's life since returning to Tripoli.

However, having met Megrahi and spoken to a doctor who advised Kenny MacAskill, he agrees with the decision taken by the justice secretary in August last year.

Mr Swire spoke out as MPs criticised the UK government for failing to advise Scottish ministers of plans to include the bomber in a prisoner transfer agreement.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Dr Swire, 73, also revealed that when he met Megrahi – whom he calls ''this quiet and dignified Muslim'' – at Greenock Prison, the killer asked him to pray for him and his family.

Dr Swire said: ''I wish to support the advice that my distinguished medical colleagues gave to MacAskill.

"By sticking to their patient- oriented professional duty, the doctors contributed to a major relief for a dying man.

"We should be proud of them," Dr Swire added.