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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Minister defends Lockerbie advice | Minister defends Lockerbie advice |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's justice secretary has defended the quality and range of medical advice he received before his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. | Scotland's justice secretary has defended the quality and range of medical advice he received before his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. |
| Kenny MacAskill released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds - a move criticised by some victims' families. | Kenny MacAskill released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds - a move criticised by some victims' families. |
| Opposition MSPs have questioned whether he consulted appropriate specialists. | Opposition MSPs have questioned whether he consulted appropriate specialists. |
| But Mr MacAskill told BBC Scotland that numerous prostate cancer specialists and consultants were involved. | But Mr MacAskill told BBC Scotland that numerous prostate cancer specialists and consultants were involved. |
| Dr Richard Simpson, the Scottish Labour Party's health spokesman, has raised concerns about the range of clinicians involved in the decision-making process. | |
| But the minister said: "In terms of medical reports, I received a clear report from the director of health and social care at the Scottish Prison Service. | But the minister said: "In terms of medical reports, I received a clear report from the director of health and social care at the Scottish Prison Service. |
| There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary | There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary |
| "Whatever Dr Simpson may suggest, this wasn't done on the whim and fancy by the director of health and social care. | "Whatever Dr Simpson may suggest, this wasn't done on the whim and fancy by the director of health and social care. |
| "It was done on the clear information and evidence - not simply his own professional expertise, but following the advice and information available to him from consultants who'd been dealing with Mr al-Megrahi during the course of his illness. | "It was done on the clear information and evidence - not simply his own professional expertise, but following the advice and information available to him from consultants who'd been dealing with Mr al-Megrahi during the course of his illness. |
| "There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants." | "There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants." |
| It said it was "rather demeaning" for opposition MSPs to be "seeking to undermine the information provided by such a highly qualified medical professional". | It said it was "rather demeaning" for opposition MSPs to be "seeking to undermine the information provided by such a highly qualified medical professional". |
| Megrahi was freed on 20 August after serving eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing. | Megrahi was freed on 20 August after serving eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing. |
| A total of 270 people died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland. | A total of 270 people died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland. |
| The decision to release Megrahi, who was greeted with a hero's welcome when he arrived back in Libya, has divided opinion. | The decision to release Megrahi, who was greeted with a hero's welcome when he arrived back in Libya, has divided opinion. |
| Mr MacAskill's decision provoked anger across the Atlantic | Mr MacAskill's decision provoked anger across the Atlantic |
| It has been condemned by President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some of the families of American victims. | It has been condemned by President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some of the families of American victims. |
| The director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, described the move as "making a mockery of justice" and one which gave "comfort to terrorists". | The director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, described the move as "making a mockery of justice" and one which gave "comfort to terrorists". |
| However, Mr MacAskill's decision received backing from Nelson Mandela, former First Minister Henry McLeish and the former lord advocate of Scotland, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC, who launched the case against Megrahi. | However, Mr MacAskill's decision received backing from Nelson Mandela, former First Minister Henry McLeish and the former lord advocate of Scotland, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC, who launched the case against Megrahi. |
| Meanwhile, the UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw described reports that the bomber was released over an oil deal as "wholly untrue". | Meanwhile, the UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw described reports that the bomber was released over an oil deal as "wholly untrue". |
| He denied a "back door deal" was done to transfer Megrahi because of UK trade talks with the Libyan government. | He denied a "back door deal" was done to transfer Megrahi because of UK trade talks with the Libyan government. |
| 'No pressure' | 'No pressure' |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's deputy first minister, said it was no secret that the UK government had negotiated a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's deputy first minister, said it was no secret that the UK government had negotiated a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya. |
| She told the BBC's Today programme: "To be frank, I don't know what deals the UK government did or tried to do in the context of that agreement. | She told the BBC's Today programme: "To be frank, I don't know what deals the UK government did or tried to do in the context of that agreement. |
| "It's certainly the case that al-Megrahi was not excluded from that agreement. | "It's certainly the case that al-Megrahi was not excluded from that agreement. |
| "What I do know, and can state categorically, as Kenny MacAskill and Alex Salmond have both done, is that these deals - if such deals existed - played no part whatsoever in the decision Kenny MacAskill took to release al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds." | "What I do know, and can state categorically, as Kenny MacAskill and Alex Salmond have both done, is that these deals - if such deals existed - played no part whatsoever in the decision Kenny MacAskill took to release al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds." |
| She also insisted that Megrahi's decision to drop his appeal played no part in Mr MacAskill's decision. | She also insisted that Megrahi's decision to drop his appeal played no part in Mr MacAskill's decision. |
| "There was no pressure put on him by the Scottish government and the Scottish government had no influence in that decision," she said. | "There was no pressure put on him by the Scottish government and the Scottish government had no influence in that decision," she said. |
| "In many respects the Scottish Government would have preferred the appeal to continue." | "In many respects the Scottish Government would have preferred the appeal to continue." |