Legal action possible following “biased” STV Lockerbie bombing film

[This is the heading over a press release just issued by the SNP's Christine Grahame MSP. It reads as follows:]

STV may face legal action following the screening of a controversial documentary covering the Lockerbie bombing after the film was described as deeply misleading by an MSP. Christine Grahame has written to STV’s Chief Executive Rob Woodward pointing out that unfounded allegations repeated in the film had previously resulted in legal action from Air Malta. In 1993 the airline won a significant out of court settlement against Granada TV who also claimed the bag containing the bomb had been transported, unaccompanied, on one of their flights. Ms Grahame said:

“I was extremely disappointed when I saw the STV documentary and the one-sided and biased manner in which they recounted the events surrounding the atrocity.

“There remains very serious doubts over the safety of the conviction, but the STV film apparently chose to focus on the controversial and highly disputed claims of the senior investigators.

“There were a number if misleading statements made in the film, but I think the most worrying from STV's perspective will be the unfounded allegation that the case alleged to have carried the bomb, was transported, unaccompanied, on an Air Malta flight.

“When Air Malta sued Granada TV for making the same unfounded allegation the airline was able to prove that all 55 bags that were loaded onto the flight to Frankfurt were ascribed to passengers. Granada TV were forced to settle out of court and pay costs to Air Malta and to this day not a single shred of evidence has ever been produced showing the bomb was on the Air Malta flight.

“I now understand that Air Malta are considering whether to take similar legal action against STV for repeating this unfounded allegation.

“Once again the gaping holes in the case raise serious questions over the safety of the conviction and have exposed the superficiality of the recent STV film.

“In October at a fringe meeting at the SNP Conference in Perth I am planning to hold a screening of another documentary covering the case which raises serious questions over how the police and FBI investigation was handled. The film ... has already won international awards and reveals some shocking new details which cast further doubt over the safety of Mr Megrahi’s conviction. So far no British broadcaster, including STV, has been brave enough to show it.”