Scottish Catholic Observer

Cardinal Keith O’Brien has called for an independent inquiry to be set up by the Scottish Parliament into the 2001 conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi for the Lockerbie bombing.

The move comes a year after the Scottish Government released Mr Al-Megrahi from jail on compassionate grounds, a decision that had support domestically but  has been condemned by the UK and US governments.

A petition for the case to be reopened—due to concerns over the validity of the conviction—has been signed by Cardinal O’Brien, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, and more than a thousand other individuals. The petition was submitted to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow said he would also support an inquiry if new evidence emerges.

Regardless of the outcome, Cardinal O’Brien said he believed Scotland’s justice system would be ‘strengthened by such a process.’

“Either a conviction will be upheld and the process vindicated or it will be struck down, demonstrating to the world that Scotland has the wisdom and compassion needed to rectify its mistakes,” he said. “In either event I will willingly accept the outcome.”

The cardinal said he decided to call for an enquiry after lengthy consideration.

“Earlier this year, I described the murder of 243 innocent people on  board Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie on December 21 1988  as an act of unbelievable horror and gratuitous barbarity,” he said. “Many legal consequences followed from that act culminating in the conviction of a Libyan citizen, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi for the bombing.

“From the moment that verdict was announced, voices have been raised in protest. Over the years the clamour has grown amongst, lawyers, politicians, academics and growing numbers of ordinary citizens that the verdict amounted to a miscarriage of justice.”

Cardinal O’Brien said he was not a legal expert but believed further investigation could only strengthen the reputation of the Scottish justice system.

“I do not claim to have examined all the evidence in this case, far from it, but I do claim to be increasingly concerned about the reputation of the Scottish justice system,” he added. “I have defended publicly the system of justice in this country and have done so because it enjoys my support and confidence. Global accusations of wrongful conviction made against our system must be dealt with. Left unheeded they will weaken the administration of justice in Scotland by casting doubts on its probity and ability. I believe the best way to remedy this is for the Scottish Parliament to launch an independent inquiry into the 2001 conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103.”

Archbishop Conti said he would also be willing for the case to be reopened.

“The administration of mercy is a sign of maturity in a justice system and that same maturity will lead to an openness to review the case if appropriate evidence is brought forward,” he said.

The petition to the Scottish Parliament was established by the pressure group Justice For Megrahi, which involves Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the Pan Am bombing. He said the case has been ‘corrosive and deeply damaging’ to the Scottish justice system and called on the government to open an inquiry.

“Only in such a manner can Scotland demonstrate that it is making a sincere attempt to resolve this highly contentious issue,” Mr Swire added.

The Al-Megrahi case has dominated headlines since he was released from Greenock prison a year ago. He dropped his right to appeal his conviction prior to being released on compassionate grounds under the belief he had mere months to live. However he received a hero’s welcome on his return to Libya and remains alive.

The Scottish Government has come under intense pressure from the UK and American administrations both of which have repeatedly stated their belief that releasing Mr Al-Meraghi was a mistake.

—Pic: Paul McSherry