GRAY – WRONG DECISION AND BOTCHED PROCESS
 
The Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament have criticised the handling of the release from prison of Scotland’s worst mass murderer, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
 
The Committee examined the circumstance surrounding the release of Megrahi and have concluded that it was inappropriate for the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to meet Megrahi at Greenock Prison. The Committee also found that a second opinion on the medical advice should have been sought before deciding to release Megrahi and that not enough consideration was given to the possibility of him being released to an address in Scotland.
 
The Committee also said it was unclear if Mr MacAskill had properly weighed the seriousness of the crime and sentence against compassion for Megrahi. They also said the decision to release Megrahi should have been made to Parliament rather than at a press conference.
 
Labour's Leader in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Gray said:
 
“The decision to release Megrahi was the wrong one and it is also clear that it was after a completely botched process.
 
“Kenny MacAskill should have properly weighed the seriousness of Megrahi’s crime and long sentence against his compassion for Megrahi.
 
“Mr MacAskill should not have gone to Greenock Prison to have a chat with Scotland’s worst mass murderer and he certainly should have obtained a second opinion on the medical evidence.
 
“The Committee have also made it clear that even the handling of the announcement itself was lacking with Mr MacAskill choosing to speak to the media rather than answer questions in the Parliament.
 
“This entire episode has damaged Scotland’s international reputation and unfortunately reflects the SNP’s attitude to victims of crime. It was the wrong decision by a soft-touch Justice Minister who released a man who murdered 270 people to a hero’s reception in Tripoli.”
 
Russell Brown, Labour MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said:
 
"I have said all along that the SNP made the wrong decision to free the Lockerbie bomber and I welcome the committee's investigation into his release.
 
"This report makes it abundantly clear that the handling of the case was totally shambolic.
 
"Kenny MacAskill made a fundamental mistake by going to the prison to meet face to face with the convicted killer.
 
"The Minister allowed Megrahi to return to Libya to a hero's welcome and that image will be etched in many people's memory for a long time to come.
 
"This is one decision that will come back to haunt the SNP."

5 February 2010