Abdelbaset al Megrahi was released from prison seven months ago on compassionate grounds after being given only three months to live.
But just two weeks ago, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi boasted cancer-stricken Megrahi's health has "greatly improved" now he is home.
As part of the conditions of his release, Megrahi has to provide East Renfrewshire Council with a monthly report on his medical condition.
But his lawyers have gagged the council from releasing the reports used to update the Scottish government. (...)
Labour MSP George Foulkes has called for the reports to be released under the Freedom of Information Act.
But his request has been rejected after council chiefs consulted Megrahi's lawyers.
East Renfrewshire Council monitor Megrahi because his family lived in Newton Mearns during his time in jail.
Foulkes said: "If the medical evidence backed up the decision to release Megrahi, then there should be no reason why it can't be published.
"The lawyers' refusal and the government's refusal can only mean that they both have something to hide. It is a matter of public importance." (...)
In a letter to George Foulkes, East Renfrewshire Council solicitor Anne Leonard said: "I have been advised that Mr Megrahi does not consent to the release of his personal data."
A council spokesman said: "Their release would breach the Data Protection Act." (...)
Under the terms of his release, he was to take part in a video link with council officials.
But they have had to contact him by phone because he was considered too ill to take part in video links.
[From a report in today's edition of the Sunday Mail.]
This is yet another piece of evidence to support the argument that Megrahi may not be ill at all and that a plan was hatched between the British and Libyan governments to get Megrahi out before the appeal and in which the British in return gave something of great value to the Libyan government. This would not include trade which benefits both parties.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps Professor Megrahi feels that his medical reports are confidential.
ReplyDelete"Professor" Megrahi, indeed! In which university did he hold a chair?
ReplyDeleteBut having said that, Baz is probably right. The man has prostate cancer. Not the most dignified condition, to put it mildly. I imagine the medical records of any prostate cancer patient have a lot of very personal details that few would welcome entering the public domain.
ReplyDeleteI can well understand why Professor/Mr Al-Megrahi would not wish to provide ammunition for those seeking to "prove" he should be dead already. His health is of no relevance to the real issues.
ReplyDeletewell, it's relevant to why he got released.
ReplyDeleteJust simple privacy seems a bit weak, considering everything, but neither does tis prove anything nefarious. Perhaps Mr. (director, perhaps prof. somewhere) Megrahi, in addition to general privacy concerns, has made a point that he's sick of being considered guilty and demanded to see this and that.
And quite possibly there's Ruth's thing, or one of a half-dozen other shady aspects we're not to see...