"It happened to Lockerbie but it wasn't about Lockerbie"

[What follows is excerpted from an article published this afternoon on the website of The Sun:]

Residents of Lockerbie hope this year's anniversary will mark the moment when the town can finally move on.

Since the tragedy, locals have walked a fine line between commemorating the victims and trying to heal and go forward with their lives.

The disaster that struck 30 years ago made the name of their small town known around the world — and guaranteed it will never be forgotten.

But residents, community leaders and politicians hope this month's milestone will see the horror that happened that night start to slowly fade into the past.

Retired teacher David Wilson, 75, said: "The word Lockerbie will always have this atrocity attached to it — we're not known for anything else.

"I'm hopeful that this year moves Lockerbie from modern studies to history, but it will never be forgotten."

Controversy over the guilt of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi — the only person to be convicted of the bombing — has kept the attack in the news over the decades.

But while the families of those who were on board Flight 103 continue their quest for the truth, Lockerbie has opted out of the bid because it won't bring back the people they lost.

David said: "Lockerbie is like a jigsaw with pieces missing. It happened to Lockerbie but it wasn't about Lockerbie.

"The Americans have one view on Megrahi, Jim Swire — who lost his daughter, Flora — and his supporters have another and Lockerbie has been caught in between.

"The focus has always been in the US because most of the victims were from there. Lockerbie never really joined in with the international dimensions because we worked out pretty quickly we didn't have much useful input.

"Instead, we welcomed people from all over the world who came to our town and took care of them.

"But even if everyone involved in the murder had been caught, it won't bring our people back. A lot of people in Lockerbie just wish it would stop." (...)

John Gair lives yards from Sherwood Crescent where 11 people died when the fuel-packed wings of the Pan Am jet crashed into their home.

He has seen the town gradually learn to cope after the disaster — but believes the row over who was responsible for the atrocity has hindered their recovery.

He said: "In most respects the town has healed — life has to go on. We got into a cycle of coping and relative normality eventually.

"Although there are some people who may never fully get over it, we all have unpleasant memories. (...)

"I think people would be glad if there was some finality with the Megrahi situation.

"But who did it is like a wound that won't heal — some finality one way or another would help.

"I think Lockerbie would have faded into the 'historic event' category had there been no controversy over guilt." (...)

Local councillor Adam Wilson wasn't born when the disaster happened but has witnessed the dignified silence of residents who lived through the horror.

Adam said: "Most people in Lockerbie don't want to talk about it, living through it was enough.

"Everyone has their own story but they keep it to themselves. (...)

"I wasn't born when it happened but I had family who lived through it.

"My great gran lived on one street that was partly destroyed. It's important we mark it but we must also respect locals who don't want to be reminded."