Lockerbie shame

The world’s cameras have been on our doorstep again over the last few days as our most notorious resident was given a free pass back to Libya.

The people who lined the streets outside Greenock prison to jeer the man convicted of 270 counts of murder made clear what they thought of the decision to release him.

Al-Megrahi has been released after just eight years, serving just 10 days for the each of the lives he claimed in 1988.

With the world’s eyes on Scotland, the cack-handed way this has been handled has left a major stain on the reputation and credibility of our justice and parliamentary systems.

I find it unbelievable that while the Lord Advocate, Scotland’s public prosecutor, was pursuing an appeal of Megrahi’s sentence on the grounds of leniency, Kenny MacAskill was pursuing a process at the same time that has set him free.

The special treatment conferred on the Libyan, with a personal visit from Mr MacAskill just a fortnight ago, where many commentators believe a deal was done, is in stark contrast with the way the families of the victims have been treated.

With the appeal now dropped, they are now left hanging with no prospect of ever getting the truth as to why their loved ones were killed.

Since then, the whole fiasco has been dogged by leaks, whispers and innuendos which has left serious questions about the competence of the justice secretary and the Scottish Government.

There can be no doubt now that the statement read out to the press should been given to the parliament, allowing MSPs to question his motives and actions.

Having sidelined the Scottish Parliament and failed to inspire confidence with his handling of this case, it falls now on the Scottish Government and First Minister to restore the credibility of the Scottish justice and parliamentary system.