The release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi – who was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing – was not discussed by the Scottish cabinet ahead of a final decision being made, newly released papers show. The National Records of Scotland has released the cabinet documents from 2009, which includes the time when the decision was taken to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
The former Libyan intelligence officer was the only man convicted over the atrocity, which killed 270 people when PanAm flight 103 exploded over Dumfries and Galloway on December 21, 1988. All 259 passengers and crew travelling to the US and 11 people on the ground were killed in what remains Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack.
Megrahi was later diagnosed with prostate cancer while serving his sentence in Scotland. According to newly released documents, no formal discussion was held among the cabinet, which included then deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon and then first minister Alex Salmond.
Only sparse mentions of Megrahi are made, according to minutes, including an acknowledgement by then justice secretary Kenny MacAskill of an application received by the Libyan government of Muammar Gaddafi for Megrahi’s release. “Mr MacAskill said that on behalf of Scottish ministers, he was considering the formal application made by the Libyan government on May 5 2009 for the transfer of Abdelbaset Ali Al-Megrahi under the terms of the prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Libya,” the papers said in June that year.
