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| Bomber jail visit 'inappropriate' | Bomber jail visit 'inappropriate' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Scottish justice secretary's visit to Greenock Prison to see the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing was "inappropriate", an inquiry has said. | |
| Kenny MacAskill made the decision to release terminally-ill Abdelbaset al-Megrahi from jail on compassionate grounds. | |
| The probe by Holyrood's justice committee expressed concern about other aspects leading up to the release. | The probe by Holyrood's justice committee expressed concern about other aspects leading up to the release. |
| The Scottish government said Mr MacAskill had followed "due process". | The Scottish government said Mr MacAskill had followed "due process". |
| Megrahi, who has cancer, was the only man convicted for the murder of 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December, 1988. | Megrahi, who has cancer, was the only man convicted for the murder of 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December, 1988. |
| The justice secretary followed due process every step of the way Scottish government spokeswoman | The justice secretary followed due process every step of the way Scottish government spokeswoman |
| The decision to allow him to return home to Libya last August sparked a political storm. | The decision to allow him to return home to Libya last August sparked a political storm. |
| In its inquiry report, the cross-party justice committee said it was "inappropriate" for Mr MacAskill to have visited Megrahi in jail before his release, citing comments from UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw that there was only an obligation to make written representations. | In its inquiry report, the cross-party justice committee said it was "inappropriate" for Mr MacAskill to have visited Megrahi in jail before his release, citing comments from UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw that there was only an obligation to make written representations. |
| "The committee takes the view that such an issue need never have arisen if the matter had been considered on the basis of normal written representations in the normal way," stated the report. | "The committee takes the view that such an issue need never have arisen if the matter had been considered on the basis of normal written representations in the normal way," stated the report. |
| MSPs said a second opinion could have been obtained on the medical evidence which paved the way for Megrahi's release, and faulted the reasoning behind Mr MacAskill's decision to reject a separate application for prisoner transfer (PTA) to a Libyan jail. | MSPs said a second opinion could have been obtained on the medical evidence which paved the way for Megrahi's release, and faulted the reasoning behind Mr MacAskill's decision to reject a separate application for prisoner transfer (PTA) to a Libyan jail. |
| Mr MacAskill gave evidence to the inquiry: From Democracy Live | Mr MacAskill gave evidence to the inquiry: From Democracy Live |
| The report concluded: "The committee is extremely concerned about some aspects of the process leading up to the decision, particularly the decision to allow representations in person by Mr al-Megrahi in Greenock Prison, the reasoning behind the refusal of the PTA application, the lack of clarity as to the basis on which compassionate release was granted and the fact that the announcement of the decision was not made to the parliament." | The report concluded: "The committee is extremely concerned about some aspects of the process leading up to the decision, particularly the decision to allow representations in person by Mr al-Megrahi in Greenock Prison, the reasoning behind the refusal of the PTA application, the lack of clarity as to the basis on which compassionate release was granted and the fact that the announcement of the decision was not made to the parliament." |
| And MSPs said "much greater consideration" should have been given to releasing Megrahi to an address in Scotland, although the committee acknowledged the "significant resource and security" implications of such a move. | And MSPs said "much greater consideration" should have been given to releasing Megrahi to an address in Scotland, although the committee acknowledged the "significant resource and security" implications of such a move. |
| Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken, the committee convener, said Mr MacAskill's decision was a difficult one, but added: "This was a bad decision, made badly and not thought through." | Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken, the committee convener, said Mr MacAskill's decision was a difficult one, but added: "This was a bad decision, made badly and not thought through." |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray added: "The decision to release Megrahi was the wrong one and it is also clear that it was after a completely botched process." | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray added: "The decision to release Megrahi was the wrong one and it is also clear that it was after a completely botched process." |
| A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The justice secretary followed due process every step of the way and he has repeatedly expressed his deepest sympathy for the relatives of all victims of the Lockerbie atrocity. | A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The justice secretary followed due process every step of the way and he has repeatedly expressed his deepest sympathy for the relatives of all victims of the Lockerbie atrocity. |
| "Mr MacAskill's decision to allow Mr al-Megrahi to return to Libya to die was based on the medical information about his terminal condition, and the recommendations of the parole board and prison governor." | "Mr MacAskill's decision to allow Mr al-Megrahi to return to Libya to die was based on the medical information about his terminal condition, and the recommendations of the parole board and prison governor." |