Megrahi Debate

We have heard so much about compassion in the last month, regarding this case. I believe there was never a doubt that we as a nation have compassion, as said previously it is the core of this Parliament, all you have to do is read the inscriptions on the Mace - Compassion, Integrity, Wisdom and Justice.

My main compassion at the moment goes to the families of the victims and the people of Lockerbie, who have long made it clear that they want to move on from that awful night nearly 21 years ago, but now are reminded of their nightmare again. My, and I believe other members premier thoughts are with them.

There is no doubt that the Lockerbie bomb was the most horrific of incidents to happen in Scotland, and that 270 innocent lives were unjustly taken just a few days before Christmas, but we have to be clear that this debate is not about Megrahi's innocence or not but about the events leading to the decision.

This affair has raised several concerns regarding process used by the Justice Secretary. Megrahi chose to meet the Secretary, and he did so. "Duty bound", Mr McAskill stated he was. I now ask what precedence that now sets? Can all prisoners now claim their right to have the Secretary visit them in prison? The Cabinet Secretary is going to be a very busy man, if not at least by replying to mails from such requests. So in the summing up I would be interested in how many such requests have already been submitted?

My concerns, like others, extend to the matter of press being so well informed, not just about the visit, but also of the release date. Mr McAskill has clearly stated previously that he was acting in a quaisi judicial manner, but never have I heard of a Judge or Jury meeting pre a judicial decision with a convicted prisoner, and having so briefed the press, never mind a Minister with the charge of Justice doing so.

On the 24th of August in this chamber in response to Bryan Adam MSP , Mr McAskill stated that "Costs are not a factor that we take into account in the implementation of our justice system." And also stated in his statement that day in this chamber, from advice by the Deputy Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police that "a minimum of 48 officers would have been required simply to allow Mr al-Megrahi to live in Scotland. I therefore ruled that out as an option." That same Police Force later stated that " If a decision had been made to release Mr al-Megrahi in Scotland, we would have provided whatever security was required." ( Times Online - 27 August 2009 ). That to me raises doubts as to whether the Cabinet Secretary seriously considered release into Scotland - a suggestion he has described as "ludicrous" - I ask is it ludicrous that 1000 police officers are deployed for one old firm game ? No - - A release into a Scottish hospice could have been imposed, where Mr Megrahi's family could easily visit and release conditions could have been monitored. - That would have been true Compassion, where Justice could also have been monitored, I wonder now how will Mr Megrahi's release conditions of a monthly video conference be controlled when he is far out the reaches of our jurisdiction.

Regarding the medical advice, time will tell. We now see pictures of Mr al-Megrahi seemingly being treated, and I wish no-one ill or to lose the most precious gift of life. But time will tell and perhaps time will judge.

(It is also regrettable that the appeal process was halted, a process that could have answered many questions, including the possibility of Mr Megrahi's innocence, and the possibility of Justice for the victims, if he was so. I therefore would be interested in the summing up that we can have full assurances that the dropping of the appeal was no bargaining chip for any release.)

A decision like this is for the cabinet secretary to make but he is responsible to this parliament and I believe that the Liberal Democrat's request for a recall of Parliament to discuss the issue pre this unprecedented decision should have been granted. I believe that was a mistake. I even pushed Mr McAskill on the 24th of August in this chamber to see if he'd support a debate on the matter. Now we see flurries of papers being published in an attempt to dam the flood of criticism. I believe that if we'd had the announcement made to parliament with questions answered, previous to the release then a lot of the government's criticism could have been avoided.

I therefore regret that the process of the whole incident has raised so many questions, yesterday we saw those letters being hurriedly published, all of them according to the First Minister on the BBC, but we have not had sight of any transcripts yet from any discussions had between governments and I remain to be convinced that all the options regarding Mr Megrahi had been fully explored. Because if they had been, then we could be sure that as our Parliamentary Mace states, the use of Wisdom, Compassion for all, Integrity and Justice had been used.