Lockerbie victims’ families describe their torment over bomber’s release

RELATIVES of victims of the Lockerbie bombing have described their continued distress that the man convicted of the atrocity remains in Libya almost two years to the day since he was freed on compassionate grounds.

Those who oppose the decision, made by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on 20 August, 2009, insist Abdelbaset al-Megrahi should not have been freed from jail in Scotland.

Megrahi was said to be about three months from death after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.

Despite the anger from critics of the decision, others hit out at the “annual Lockerbie bomber blood fest”.

Some relatives of victims, and other campaigners, believe Megrahi is innocent, or that all legal avenues have not yet been followed through.

Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was killed in the bombing, said: “It’s extremely frustrating that we’re still talking about this.

“The fact that it’s now years later means the decision was probably made on a spurious basis. I’m sure Kenny MacAskill made it in good faith, but why are we having this discussion now? It’s just another thing that remains unsolved.”

Ms Dix, who lives in Woking, Surrey, said too much confusion surrounds the legal process.

“The court found him guilty, but he refused to speak and dropped his appeal. The release left us in limbo,” she added.

Of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up in December 1988, 189 were Americans. US families were among the most vocal critics of the decision.

Bob Monetti, from New Jersey who lost his son Rick, said: “The whole thing was a put-up job to start with. He was released because they wanted business with the Libyans.

“Hopefully the Gaddafi regime will fall and we’ll find out more.”