Lockerbie bombing appeal granted over potential "miscarriage of justice"

A fresh legal appeal into the conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi has been granted after it was found a "miscarriage of justice" may have occurred.

The bombing of the Pan Am flight lead to 269 deaths on board and 21 on the ground

The Scottish Criminal Cases review Commission (SCCRC) has now said the family of al-Megrahi, who died eight years ago, can pursue an appeal at the High Court on the grounds of "unreasonable Verdict" and " Non-disclosure."

Megrahi is the only man to have been convicted of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1998 which resulted in the murders of the 259 people on board and 11 residents of Lockerbie.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame, a member of The Justice for Megrahi Campaign, today welcomed the announcement.

“At long last all the available evidence from this murderous attack will be brought out in the High Court on Appeal," she said.

“It has been for almost a decade that I have believed that the conviction of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was not secure but as he abandoned his appeal against conviction in August 2009 to secure release back to his family in Libya, suffering then from terminal cancer, the truth of the dreadful night has been delayed too long."

The Commission has sent a statement of reasons for its decision to the High Court. It has sent a copy of the document to Megrahi family lawyer Aamer Anwar, the Lord Advocate and the Crown Agent.

Bill Matthews, chairman of the SCCRC, said "further information" has become available since it previously reviewed the conviction which has now been “considered and assessed."

"Our function is not to decide upon the guilt or innocence of an applicant," he said.

"Our function is to examine the grounds of review identified and to decide whether any of the grounds meet the statutory test for a potential miscarriage."

“I am pleased therefore that we are now able to issue a detailed statement of reasons which addresses all of the issues raised. I am satisfied that the matter is now returning to the appropriate forum – the appeal court – to consider fully all of the issues raised in our statement of reasons.”