Lockerbie victim families expressed anger today after the Scottish Justice Secretary made an unprecedented visit to the bomber in prison as speculation grew that he could be returned to Libya.
Kenny MacAskill met with Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, 57, at Greenock Prison, as part of ongoing deliberations about his future. It is thought to be the first time a senior Holyrood minister has visited a convicted killer in jail.
In May, Libyan authorities applied for al-Megrahi's repatriation under the terms of a controversial prisoner transfer deal agreed by Tripoli and the UK. That request was followed last week by a separate application for al-Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds. He is suffering from prostate cancer and his condition is now said to be terminal. (...)
Supporters are hoping the Libyan will be granted compassionate release in order to allow the continuation of his latest attempt to clear his name. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission referred his case back to court two years ago on six points that may have constituted a miscarriage of justice. The first stage of the appeal has already been heard in Edinburgh, but no ruling is expected until the autumn as one of the judges presiding over the case has had to undergo heart surgery.
Pursuing a prisoner transfer, on the other hand, would force al-Megrahi to abandon his appeal. The terms of the deal permit deliberations, but forbid a final decision on the request while legal proceedings are taking place. Reports yesterday suggested that al-Megrahi is now moving towards agreeing to drop the appeal, clearing the way for him to serve the rest of his sentence in Libya. (...)
American victims' families are thought to be considering a judicial appeal if Scotland agrees to a prisoner transfer.
Kathleen Flynn, from New Jersey, who lost her son JP in the atrocity, said: "When are we going to come to the conclusion that what happened happened and we're going to punish the people who did it?
"My feeling is that when someone has committed a crime as serious as his, why would you decide he should go someplace else? He should be punished in the country that he performed the crime in."
Mrs Flynn also dismissed claims that the Libyan's health is deteriorating.
"My husband had prostate cancer," she said. "He had it 10 years ago and he is still alive and well 10 years later."
Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, who visited al-Megrahi in jail in June, argued that the Libyan should be given compassionate release.
"The trouble with a prisoner transfer is it will never be resolved through the Scottish courts," she said.
"The appeal must proceed and justice be done and seen to be done."
She also rejected suggestions that Mr MacAskill's visit set a "dangerous precedent."
She added: "I think it's appropriate that when someone's considering what's to happen to someone who's terminally ill and in prison that all aspects are examined."
[From a report just posted on the website of The Times.]
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