Bruce quizzes Foreign Secretary on Al-Megrahi release implications
October 12, 2009 4:30 PM
Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce MP has sought assurances from the Foreign Secretary that the release of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi from a Scottish jail would not impede the search for other perpetrators of the Lockerbie bombing, given the drop of his appeal the day before his release was announced.
Speaking in the House of Commons he voiced his concern that the abrupt end of Mr al-Megrhai's appeal process would limit the opportunity to perhaps find other perpetrators of the Lockerbie bombing and that this therefore provides grounds for an inquiry in itself.
He also backed his Scottish Liberal Democrat colleague Alistair Carmichael MP's call for a House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry into the handling and consequences of the release of Mr al-Megrahi particularly with reference to future government relations between London and Edinburgh.
Speaking during the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House, Mr Bruce said -
"Does the Secretary of State acknowledge that there is disquiet among many people about the fact that Mr. Megrahi withdrew his appeal the day before Kenny MacAskill made his announcement, presumably because of the return of prisoners legislation? Does the Secretary of State not agree that as a consequence, people are disappointed that the opportunity perhaps to find other perpetrators of Lockerbie who have never been brought to justice has been lost? Does not that, in itself, justify an inquiry?
Commenting after his exchange, Mr Bruce said -
"The release of Al-Megrahi was a double-blow to the relatives of the victims and the concerned general public as a whole. Not only was the only person convicted of the murder of 270 people released but the potential to follow up on an appeal which could have identified other perpetrators of the crime was also closed off.
-ENDS-
Mr Bruce was speaking in a statement in the House of Commons Chamber on Monday 12th October 2009 when MPs questioned David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary on the UK Government's role in the handling of the Megrahi release.
(12 Oct 2009 : Column 40)
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