Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi

[Gavin Scott]

In light of the recent images of convicted Lockerbie bomber, al-Megrahi, in a state close to death - do you think it was right for him to be released by the Scottish Government on compassionate grounds?

As some background - the law for compassionate release is many, many years old - and is "legitimate" whether it be used for a minor offender or a mass murderer. Before the Scottish Government was re-formed, the decision would have been taken in Westminster, based on Scots law - hopefully that fact is enough to dismiss conjecture about his release being made in return for trade deals and the like.

Its a bit of a polarising issue in Scotland - but based on conversations I've had, more people than not seem to support the decision, because - it has to be said - they anticipated his imminent death once he was sent home.

That he survived for two years - well, that's something that couldn't be anticipated really - and I do know that's pretty uncommon given the rages of cancer. I also know that it wouldn't have been a pleasant two years.

From my perspective, the last couple of days have irked me - comments from the UK Government about "all of Britain" being against the release. That wasn't true two years ago, and it isn't even true two years later.

But maybe I'm more fixated on the idea that a compassionate clause in the law reflects something of the Scots that I wish to identify with.

So I'd like to know what your thoughts on this are.

[DVB Cornwall]

Based on muliple articles, it's clear that the release wasn't wholly on compassionate grounds, the amount of post conviction, pre appeal evidence that has come to light would almost certainly have meant that the appeal would have been successful. The resulting furore would have been intense and the cancer that al-Megrahi developed was a convienent diversion that enabled an easy way out for all sides.

Feel sad for all concerned really al-Megrahi for his illness and being recruited as a stooge by the Gadaffi regime, the PA 102 victims families and those of the residents of Lockerbie who are still injured and the relatives of those who were killed.

[Gavin Scott]

Based on muliple articles, it's clear that the release wasn't wholly on compassionate grounds, the amount of post conviction, pre appeal evidence that has come to light would almost certainly have meant that the appeal would have been successful. The resulting furore would have been intense and the cancer that al-Megrahi developed was a convienent diversion that enabled an easy way out for all sides.

Feel sad for all concerned really al-Megrahi for his illness and being recruited as a stooge by the Gadaffi regime, the PA 102 victims families and those of the residents of Lockerbie who are still injured and the relatives of those who were killed.

Kenny McCaskill has been pretty unequivocal about his reasoning - but I did hear Salmond suggest that there may be been (up to) 6 points which could have allowed for appeal of the conviction - although he states that he has "never been in any doubt" as to his guilt.

Unless I'm mistaken, most victims of crime want the guilty party to be punished. If there was evidence to show he wasn't the guilty party, would they not want the real perpetrator to be brought to justice?

Talks today are that Gadaffi may be brought to trial - despite the regime never having been previously sought in connection with the atrocity.

[Alexia]

Unless I'm mistaken, most victims of crime want the guilty party to be punished. If there was evidence to show he wasn't the guilty party, would they not want the real perpetrator to be brought to justice?

No, because that would mean more effort on their part, and they simply have no interest in making that effort. A lot of people have decided that Al-Megrahi was guilty, and they'll keep this viewpoint no matter what, especially in America. Over there, people are frequently declared guilty by public opinion and the media before actually being found innocent in court (OJ Simpson, Michael Jackson, Casey Anthony) so I think reasoned argument, appeal technicalities and ultimately justice all pale into insignificance in the face of public bile and revenge.

There will be people in America dancing in joy at those CNN pictures, literally pointing at that frail old man breathing his last and saying "Burn in hell bastard." I wonder how many of them actually have read the evidence, looked at the trial transcripts, researched the history of Libya and studied the complex socio-political world of the fanaticism that surrounds Gaddafi etc. Probably not many.

They are merely being swept along on the usual wave of turgid public opinion fuelled by the viewpoint that is most acceptable to the mostly uneducated and uninterested masses. Usually this landslide of mud is (sociologically) harmless (manufactured pop, lazy formulaic TV, pre-packaged microwave food) -- they help keep an alienated population tepid. But when it comes to matters such as Lockerbie, it goes beyond societal numbness - it goes against the very essence of humanity itself.

[Gavin Scott]

I think the US has been spoon-fed a lot of opinion on the subject - captions like "Butcher of the Skies" on their domestic news have cemented a view.

I think if you asked 100 people over there whether there was the slightest doubt about his guilt, they would say no.

That's not the same as over here, I think.

[Alexia]

John Bolton isn't helping much. I always thought he was a loony but this just confirms it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14705838 (near the end)

Wanting him extradited in his current condition reminds me somewhat of the Cadaver Synod. I know neo-cons don't live in the same era as us, but to think they have more in common with 900AD papal trials than 21st century compassionate justice is rather worrying.

[WillPS]

I think the grounds for sending him home on compassionate grounds were valid. The law is the law; just as it's wrong to allow concessions selectively with no legal backing, it's wrong to not allow even the most heinous of criminals the concessions the law does afford.

I think it's fairly obvious the hero's welcome al-Megrahi received was a stunt designed to wind up conservative/small-minded Westerners, who quickly rose to the bait. The trial was held in Scotland with good reason: attempting trial elsewhere was futile. A Scottish trial was agreed, so it's Scottish law that must be followed. I don't know why our PM's voice is at all important, nor do I think the implication that the Torys would have been able to do something if they were in power in 2009 carries any weight.

The Doctor's estimation of al-Megrahi's health has proved itself, al-Megrahi has done well on it but if the Doctor's "best case" estimation was the only one taken in to account I doubt the law would serve the purpose for which it was created. Doctor's estimates always tend to be pessimistic so as not to give false hope.

I fail to see why the US is pressing the issue of Lockerbie now; Libya has enough on it's plate at the moment without dealing with a terrorism incident that occurred over 20 years ago. It's becoming clear that the Lockerbie bombing had everything to do with Gaddaffi and in terms of the charges he faces it is barely a jot on the list.

[tillyoshea]

Doctor's estimates always tend to be pessimistic so as not to give false hope.

Estimates in situations like these are pretty much impossible. The number of patients who've gone home after I've declared them at death's door is only exceeded by the number who've died after I've started planning their discharge. Life's unpredictable, but does seem to like to prove doctors' predictions wrong... The trajectory is often clear, but predicting the speed is like predicting the length of a piece of string.

[Sput]

Doctor's estimates always tend to be pessimistic so as not to give false hope.

Estimates in situations like these are pretty much impossible. The number of patients who've gone home after I've declared them at death's door is only exceeded by the number who've died after I've started planning their discharge. Life's unpredictable, but does seem to like to prove doctors' predictions wrong... The trajectory is often clear, but predicting the speed is like predicting the length of a piece of string.

Remind me to never let you discharge me

[Gavin Scott]

Remind me to never let you discharge me

Matron!

[Gavin Scott]