The correspondence between the Justice Department and myself makes it clear that no suggestion has ever been made by any official of the Justice Department or any person acting on behalf of the Department to Abdelbaset Megrahi or to anyone representing him or to any Libyan Government minister or official that Mr Megrahi's prospects of being granted compassionate release were dependent upon, or would be improved by, his abandoning his current appeal.
If any official of the Justice Department or of the Libyan Government formed the view that such a suggestion had been made, he or she was clearly mistaken.
Both ITV's 'News at Ten' and BBC 2 'Newsnight' tonight announced that Mr Megrahi is to be granted compassionate release next week (before Ramadan, according to 'Newsnight').
ReplyDeleteThere was no mention as to whether Mr Megrahi's appeal will proceed after his release.
I'm afraid that an assurance from a Justice Department official is not good enough on the question of the continuing appeal.
The Scottish Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill, must make it clear that Megrahi's compassionate release is not contingent upon his dropping the appeal.