Then again, treatment of advanced cancer isn't cheap. If he wants to go back to Libia to get it rather than being a burden on the Scots economy then it's happy days
SCOTTISH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE (KENNY MacASKILL'S) STATEMENT
"I am conscious that there are deeply held feelings, and that many will disagree whatever my decision. However a decision has to be made.
Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands. The pain and suffering will
remain forever. Some hurt can never heal. Some scars can never fade.
Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive. Their pain runs deep and the wounds remain.
However, Mr Al Megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power. It is one that no court, in any jurisdiction, in any land, could revoke or
overrule. It is terminal, final and irrevocable. He is going to die.
In Scotland, we are a people who pride ourselves on our humanity. It is viewed as a defining characteristic of Scotland and the Scottish people.
The perpetration of an atrocity and outrage cannot and should not be a basis for losing sight of who we are, the values we seek to uphold, and the
faith and beliefs by which we seek to live.
Mr Al Megrahi did not show his victims any comfort or compassion. They were not allowed to return to the bosom of their families to see out their
lives, let alone their dying days. No compassion was shown by him to them. But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his
family in his final days.
Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available. Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown.
Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the
provocation or the atrocity perpetrated.
For these reasons - and these reasons alone - it is my decision that Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, convicted in 2001 for the Lockerbie bombing,
now terminally ill with prostate cancer, be released on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya to die."
difficult one... no ones ever admitted the bombing, he's always denied it, and a lot of people think he's innocent.
if thats true, he should never have been locked up anyway
if he's guilty, he should not have been let out at all, ESPECIALLY to go back to libya...
not only that, but now greenocks lost its claim to fame. we're back to richard wilson, and the black guy off 'porridge', but i
don't think there was any black people in greenock when that was on, so he wasn't from here... it was only his character from grenock though
Aye, it's a tricky one. Either way it's a miscarriage of justice.
Then again, treatment of advanced cancer isn't cheap. If he wants to go back to Libia to get it rather than being a burden on the Scots economy
then it's happy days
Compassionate grounds my a**e, I am willing to bet the UK will be buying cheap Libyan oil within six months.
I've read enough and been advised by a few 'in the know' that Megrahi's appeal which he dropped in lieu of becoming eligible for
Compassionate Release, would have probably been successful.
The appeal process would have continued even after Megrahi had died and a judgement issued.
A dead man would have in all likelihood been found 'not proven'.
Doesn't mean he still wasn't guilty though, so what a mess!
Personally, I couldn't care less about America's moaning. Their track record on 'forgetting' atrocities (many perpetrated by
them!) when it suits is well documented in history.
And as for their accusation of the release being part of a financial 'sweetener' makes me want to puke! Talk about being judged by their
own standards.
I thought MacAskill's statement was pure in nature and delivered by a man who knew he was about to become despised and derided, yet who still
stuck to his principles, and those of Scots Law.
For me the statement sent out a clear message and that's one of peace!
Unfortunately, it would appear that it's interpretation will be twisted (particularly over the pond), or just ignored by those who have no
ability to think for themselves.
Keny MacAskill had no control over the reception for Megrahi when he touched down. Discretion was asked for, but ignored... then again, there are
many in Libya who would say that the reception was not a celebration of his release, but a celebration of the spirit of humanity!
Interpretations... !!!
Whatever... a right bloody mess!
I'm so angry about it that I have no words 
yet again, the goverment being too soft
I'm conflicted about it.
If he was guilty of the bombing, then he should have died in prison. No compassionate leave, no mercy. He murdered 270 men, women and children. Why
would he get to go home to die with his family when he showed none of them any mercy.
But, there is a chance that he wasn't responsible for it. Perhaps he was a scapegoat, and jailed unjustly as part of a show trial,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8211596.stm in which case letting him die with his family doesn't seem to bad.
I think the way he was welcomed back in Libya was in very poor taste.
Trouble is, what happens if he doesn't die soon? Will they send him back?
I think if we wanted to show mercy and that we were better than the bombers, we could have allowed a few of his family to visit him in prison and be
there when he died.
Mike
I feel sympathy for those who lost family or friends and who think that he did it.
I also feel sympathy for those who lost family or friends and who think that he didn't do it.
Other than that, and excepting the fact that he or whoever else might be responsible managed to compress a lot of deaths into one heinous crime, I
think we should all just remember the dead and get on with life.
I'm thankfull for having life today and will be thankfull if I have life tomorrow.
The past we can have no influence over.
I worry that it may set a peculiar precident. Just how ill do you have to be? Everybody in jail is going to die, is there to be a sliding scale of
release based on severity of crime and life expectancy.
He was convicted of mass murder under Scottish law by a Scottish jury. His release baffles me.
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
I feel sympathy for those who lost family or friends and who think that he did it.
I also feel sympathy for those who lost family or friends and who think that he didn't do it.
Other than that, and excepting the fact that he or whoever else might be responsible managed to compress a lot of deaths into one heinous crime, I think we should all just remember the dead and get on with life.
I'm thankfull for having life today and will be thankfull if I have life tomorrow.
The past we can have no influence over.
quote:
I think if we wanted to show mercy and that we were better than the bombers, we could have allowed a few of his family to visit him in prison and be there when he died.
If he was guilty - and the justice system found him guilty then his release is the wrong decision regardless of his condition, it really pisses me off
to see that people who have not obeyed the law and shown no compassion in there acts get to use the system to there advantage when it suits.
The fact he is so closely linked with the most powerful person in Libya colonel M kadafi is a big worry- he, who in any other country would have been
hung and quartered for the things he has done whilst in power.
Kadafi runs the people who run the oil and its back to the black stuff again ......
quote:
Originally posted by oldtimer
I worry that it may set a peculiar precedent. Just how ill do you have to be? Everybody in jail is going to die, is there to be a sliding scale of release based on severity of crime and life expectancy. He was convicted of mass murder under Scottish law by a Scottish jury. His release baffles me.
im not in posession of many facts regarding his case, but im led to believe that it wasnt a fair trial due to the main witness (the taylor) having
seen a photo of him before fingering him in the line up.
The crime certainly wasnt one mans work, but id say that if he had ANY knowledge of what was being planned, he should never be realised.
However, there are so many theories that we will never know the truth.
Countless irish killers were released in the name of the greater good, so there is precident even if he is guilty 
[Edited on 23/8/09 by JoelP]
'the greater good'... sorry, I'm trying to show a bit of decorum on this particular issue, but every time I hear / read that phrase, I
just can't help but think of the film Hot Fuzz!
Yarp!
Difficult one, for me okay I can see why but the publicity around this sickens me, crowds cheering as he lands like a returning hero, this is just
WRONG.
As for the American's, stop bloody well whingeing about this, their track record on humanity is not good so maybe try and learn a lesson.
Had they stretched his neck all those years ago this post would never had happened.
They didn't pull an innocent man off the street - if he didn't do it directly, he had something to do with it and therefore shares their
guilt and should suffer the same penalty.
We, and apparently the Scots, are simply too soft of these type of people and dare I say rapists, child molesters etc.........
Where there is no doubt of guilt i.e. Yorkshire Ripper, they should pay the ultimate price for their heinous crimes.
[Edited on 23/8/09 by Wheels244]
He seems to have gotten released quicker than Ronny Biggs and he could walk.
Maybe thats the English system though, I mean he did take the wee out of it for years and im sure they were a trifle miffed.
Far more to it than meet the eye.
In order to be elligible for release on compassionate grounds, he had to admit guilt and relinquish his appeal.
With his appeal relinquished, all the additional material involvinhg the Iranians will remain sealed.
The Americans can half heartedly critisise the scotish parliament (not UK!), both can now buy new sources of oil, relationships with Iran can carry on
improving without the 'truth' coming out.
It all started off with the USA 'accidentally' shooting down an Iranian airliner
Wheels within wheels?
We will never know.
IMHO he should have been sent home.
Only I'd have waited till he was in a coffin.
My parents nextdoor neighbours in Ireland were killed in a bombing because the bomber lost his original target. He saw a car of the same description
and planted the bomb in it.
The police said the bomb contained random pieces of metal and managed to take out the two people above and 3 others who happened to be next to the
car.
The only reason they caught the bomber was because his "superiors" ratted him out as he failed his task.
2 years later he was released as part of a good will gesture with a few others to help support the peace process!!!!
I've spoken with several Scottish Police Officers who were involved in the Lockerbie investigation and they were irked with unwelcome US
interference and amazed at what these 'ghostly' US agents were turning-up!
The inference being that our specialist search teams in their protective suits who were up to their arses in mud and were working 24/7 in awful
conditions were finding very little, but these immaculately dressed US feds with black suits, shiny shoes and shades were coming up to them with with
evidential things they had 'found'!
Whatever... as I said - it's all a right mess now!
The whinging American politicians might just want to turn their volume down a little - God forbid, their 'knowledge' of the real facts
surrounding the actual bombing and their 'involvement' in the subsequent release are actually made public!
Had Megrahi died in a Scottish prison, his appeal trial would have continued and some 'secrets' were going to come tumbling out! Win, win,
win, for all involved, yet Scotland is left to be the fall-guy this time.
I'm just glad I have faith that Kenny MacAskill seems to have made the decision for release on compassionate grounds by HIMSELF and stands by his
reasons. He couldn't control the rest!
Sorry but my Opinion is he should have been left to ROT in JAIL in the UK.
If that has been the guy who had robed a corner shop then the UK would let him Die in jail due to Cancer.
But hey his cell was more like a 5 Star Hotel than jail with Sky tv private shower etc......
HEADS SHOULD ROLL IN GOVERNMENT FOR THIS!
I don't have much of an opinion about this, so probably shouldn't be posting...
But, I'm not just posting for the sake of it.
If asked whether he should be allowed to return to Libya, I would of said No. I can't believe that anyone would think that he would of been
allowed back into that sort of a Nation, or I should say, that ethos State, with that sort of a leader and NOT to expect a celebrity entry/landing.
They will build a monument to him celebrating his life and part of that life will be his involvement of the bombing. It is ridiculous. They will see
it as a victory, and they will see it that they get to die with their family even if they are caught committing atrocities. If Kenny MacAskill had his
reasons for letting him out, then fine, but I would not of let him back to Libya, to die like a hero, he should of stayed here, and I wouldn't of
cared how much it would of cost for his care, and probably round the clock police protection.
He just shouldn't be let to die like a hero...
There was an american journalist of BBC radio Nottingham the other day who was ranting on and on and on about why the "UK" [England] could
not impose its will on the "Scottish" decision making process "A lot of Americans want to know why the UK is so weak and let the
Scottish do what they want".
Er, Mr/Mrs America, are you deriving your knowledge of our political and justice systems on the blockbuster "King Arthur"?
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Hignett
If Kenny MacAskill had his reasons for letting him out, then fine, but I would not of let him back to Libya, to die like a hero, he should of stayed here, and I wouldn't of cared how much it would of cost for his care, and probably round the clock police protection.
He just shouldn't be let to die like a hero...
quote:
Anyone Up For a Discussion on the Release of Al Megrahi?
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!"
It's economic. You really don't want to pay 100's of thousands of pounds a year for this guy while he sits in jail, eating better than
half the population, do you?
As an aside, I lived for a while in the US, have had great times there, but once their government starts putting their nose into something, it's
their way or the highway. They have no regard for how other countries do things, and ZERO respect for other cultures. If someone does better than they
do, they must be cheating.
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
[Problem is Steve........
Absolutely no offense intended or taken Steve - just talking as if we were sat round a table at a pub!
The reason I've been bleating on about this one for so long is because the whole issue has really struck a chord with me! It's dredged up
so many memories, but also questions! Questions that were destined to be answered at Al Megrahi's appeal and now, we'll never know...
we're left to assume that Al Megrahi was Guilty, but still the stench is unbearable.
It has also affected me because I am a proud Scot. Our justice system is (was) envied the whole world over due to it's transparency and
evidential requirements. It's now regarded as a joke - mind you, in many ways it is these days as the courts are far too soft and the convict is
treated better than the victim. But that is how society has been allowed to develop by those in charge. Unfortunately, it was also a joke at the
time of the Al Megrahi trial... a puppet court unduly influenced by the US.
I started the thread with Kenny MacAskills statement as that was what really made me think hard about the whole issue. The decision was
straightforward for him, but still, to have the balls to bear the burden and to deliver THAT statement with such undoubted sincerity restored my pride
in being a Scot.
I'm not an SNP supporter, nor am I convinced about full-devolution, but if there were more MacAskills in the party, then they would give me
something to think about.
I honestly think that this statement will be studied and debated for years to come and will be found over the passage of time to be one of the most
important of speeches. One from which lessons can be learned by all - particularly those who might be tempted to bring terror and fear to any
community.
Compassion delivered as a strength, not as a weakness!
quote:
Originally posted by GrumpyOne
Compassionate grounds my a**e, I am willing to bet the UK will be buying cheap Libyan oil within six months.