Lockerbie father support release plea
A Gloucestershire father whose daughter died in the Lockerbie plane disaster has defended a request from the bomber to be released on compassionate grounds.
Jim Swire, from Chipping Campden, is supporting the controversial appeal to the Scottish Government by Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi to be freed as he has terminal prostate cancer.
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Jim Swire
Mr Swire, 72, who lost his child Flora on the eve of her 24th birthday, said: "It would be an abominable cruelty to make a man die in prison away from his family.
"I do not believe he is a threat to the public."
Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb on December 21, 1988, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Eleven people in Lockerbie, south Scotland, were killed as large sections of the plane fell in and around the town, bringing total fatalities to 270.
In 2001, Lybian Megrahi was found guilty of the atrocity and is serving a life term with a minimum of 27 years.
Should his appeal be successful, he could go free as early as next week, which has sparked outrage among US relatives of the bombing victims.
See tomorrow's Gloucestershire Echo for full report.
6 Comments
by punishment or, retribution
Saturday, August 15 2009, 9:12AM
“If we carry on along the retribution route of solving crime we'll all be hobbling around with one eye, one arm and one leg.
Punishment is there to show that what's been done is what is agreed to be a crime. It should never go as far as retribution.
The downing of the 747 came 2 years after the bombing of tripoli. If it was related then it too would be a form of retribution.
We have to break the circle.
Relations with Libya are now much better than they used to be. Releasing this guy will be another step along the way.
Questions of whether he was a only a scapegoat or whether he's now so ill can be used to help with this.
The difficult thing is making the step.”
by Alien Life UK, Here and There
Thursday, August 13 2009, 10:30PM
“He will probably walk away with some cash aswell. They must need the cell for a council tax defaulter.”
by Clueless, Gloucester
Thursday, August 13 2009, 9:36PM
“It's a bit late for Crocodile Tears from the people of the USA when the IRA was previously getting massive funding from them to kill British Soldiers.”
by EJ, Cheltenham
Thursday, August 13 2009, 6:58PM
“The father has a very forgiving heart and is very kind. I guess in letting go of anger he has found a kind of peace. I honestly don't know if I could do likewise. The fact that the man's guilt has been questioned sways my opinion on this a little however.”
by FºCUS, glos
Thursday, August 13 2009, 5:23PM
“HA he kills innocent people.
and cos he has cancer he might be let out.
serving a life sentance that means LIFE sentance. or the prisons let every other inmate out.
this is beyond me how could they even consider it ?????”
by PAUL, glos
Thursday, August 13 2009, 4:08PM
“whats crueler ? murdring loads of people on a plane or paying for your actions by dieing in prison ? this father has a very understanding heart , im not sure i could do the same”