Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi: What's another year?

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi: What's another year?

The Telegraph's view:

Lockerbie bomber: MacAskill should resign

The Scottish Justice Secretary has grievously embarrassed his country and there is only one honourable step left for him to take.

"A year ago today, the only man convicted of the Lockerbie terrorist attack – the worst on British territory – was released from a Scottish prison and sent home to Libya “to die”. As the world knows, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi is still very much alive and a party is to be held in Tripoli to celebrate his longevity. For the families of the 270 people who died on PanAm flight 103, blown out of the skies just before Christmas in 1988, this is an affront for which one man in particular is to blame: Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary".

There is doubt that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi actually is the so-called Lockerbie bomber. In my view, there is no legitimate reason why Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, should resign for ordering the release from prison of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

The Telegraph piece is deliberately being emotive. This is unprofessional journalism, because it clouds dispassionate objectivity and only serves to produce a biased report.

I don't give a toss if some of the families of the 270 people who died on PanAm flight 103 are affronted by a planned party to be held in Tripoli to celebrate the fact that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi is still alive. It is cause for celebration for anyone battling terminal cancer to live that bit longer. Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, is not to blame for the families who feel affronted, the families have only themselves to blame.

Kenny MacAskill is innocent. This is not a resigning matter. He did what is right, and for that he can feel proud.