Scots opinion rallies behind justice secretary

[This is the heading on a SNP (Scottish National Party) news release. It reads in part:]

The Catholic Church yesterday joined the Church of Scotland in supporting Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision to release the Lockerbie bomber.

The Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti, said the decision was a sign of strength and would be supported by many Scots.

His move comes as church leaders, civic society, senior former and current politicians and many Scots around the country voiced backing for the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber.

Radio listeners and newspapers readers have sprung to the defence of Kenny MacAskill after criticism of his decision.

With talk from the US of a threatened boycott on Scotland and Scottish goods as a protest against the decision to release the terminally-ill Libyan, many Scots are now voicing their belief that Mr MacAskill’s decision was morally correct.

SNP MSP Michael Matheson, deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's External Relations Committee, said:

“Kenny MacAskill has answered his critics and demonstrated to Parliament that at all times he followed the correct procedures in reaching what is the correct decision.
“With Scotland’s churches, civic society, senior former and current politicians and many Scots around the country agreeing with this decision and the values embodied in it it is clear that support for Mr MacAskill is growing as Scots and others around the world understand the decision and the reasons for it.

“The politicisation of what is a quasi-judicial decision has been deeply disappointing and I welcome the comments and interventions by Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm and Lib Dem MSP John Farquhar Munro. (...)

Archbishop Mario Conti:“I personally, and many others in the Catholic community admired the decision to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on grounds of compassion which is, after all, one of the principles inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament by which Scotland’s Government should operate. The showing of mercy in any situation is not a sign of weakness. Indeed in this situation, with the pressures and circumstances of the case, it seemed to me a sign of manifest strength. Despite contrary voices I believe it is a decision which will be a source of pride for many Scots and one which will be respected in the international community. I have been impressed by the expressions of understanding and insight from Dr Jim Swire and other relatives who lost loved ones on the Pan Am flight who have acknowledged both the rightness of the gesture of compassion and the doubts as to the saftey of the original conviction."

Rev Ian Galloway, convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland:"This decision has sent a message to the world about what it is to be Scottish. We are defined as a nation by how we treat those who have chosen to hurt us. Do we choose mercy even when they did not chose mercy? I understand the deep anger and grief that still grips the souls of the victims' families and I respect their views, but to them, I would say justice is not lost in acting in mercy. Instead our deepest humanity is expressed for the better. To choose mercy is the tough choice and today our nation met that challenge."

Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm:“Can I regret the politicisation of what is a quasi-judicial decision, and for my part commend the Justice Secretary for a courageous decision, which is entirely consistent with both the principles of Scots Law and Christian morality, as evidenced by the widespread support of Churches across Scotland. “Does he share my revulsion, however, by what happened when Al-Megrahi returned to Libya, but does he accept that there is nothing that anyone in this Parliament could have done to stop that? And does he also agree that it [Libya reaction] is entirely irrelevant to the rights and wrongs of the original decision?”

Lib-Dem MSP John Farquhar Munro: “I’m sure there are plenty of MSPs with the same thoughts as I have. I’m of the opinion that Mr MacAskill had no other choice but the one he made. It was obvious from the doctors that Megrahi is suffering with cancer and that Megrahi’s health was going down every day and with that the correct thing happened and that MacAskill let Megrahi go with the information he had. I believe that MacAskill did the thing that was right and the ting that people will be looking on for years to come and that every time they raise the question of how well MacAskill did because of the rules and laws of Scotland. The right thing happened and MacAskill made the right and correct decision. With that it doesn’t give me any troubles whatsoever that there are some who are complaining.”

Prime Minister’s spokesman when asked whether the release gave succour to terrorists, said: "I don't think it does. This was a decision taken by the Scottish Justice Secretary in accordance with the laws of Scotland. I don't see that anyone can argue that this gives succour."