Al megrahi

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...world-africa-14705838

After all the talk about a fit up what do people think now?

Doctor error, exageration or is this a conspiracy and this is someone else?

Or was all the cynicism just that?

[Gromit]

It looks a bit like Arsene Wenger.

[rov1100]

One things for certain the Libyans are showing themselves in their true colours. They not only refuse to send back Al Megrabi but have also stated they will not repatriate the killer of Evonne Fletcher, the policewoman. Thats the thanks we get for liberating their country of Gaddafi.

[Gromit]

Rov1100

Megrahi has already served time, and we have released him. He has not broken the terms of his release. It seems his only crime is that he hasn't died quick enough from his cancer. Oh, and he was probably innocent to begin with.

The killer of Yvonne Fletcher was released by Margaret Thatcher's Government because he was protected by diplomatic immunity. And still has.

I think you will find they have done most of the Liberating themselves. We offered our help, they did not request it. We will get our investment back and more so in contracts for oil and redevelopment.

[jake-the-peg]

Diplomatic immunity is a funny thing

These days junior diplomats are only covered by it in persuance of their role so certainly this wouldn't be covered now.

I don't know what the extent of that cover was then or if the change in the rules could be applied retrospectively.

I'm sure it'll keep the lawyers busy

More to the point I very much doubt whether there is good enough evidence over this period of time to mount a serious prosecution.

Having a main suspect is one thing, getting a conviction is a very different thing indeed

[ichkeria]

"Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the 1988 attack, said he believed Megrahi was innocent and hoped he was getting decent pain relief at home with his family.

"I feel extremely resentful that the murder of my lovely elder daughter Flora should be embedded in what I'm satisfied is in fact a tissue of lies which led to a politically useful outcome," he said."

Not, in my opinion, a lot more to be said ...

[DTCwordfan]

The evidence that he was convicted on is very weak - not least the Maltese "in-between" wan't exactly known for his honesty.....he was a Libyan stooge and his family were well rewarded - look at the house he is in....

[tamborine]

am puzzled why the scots are in touch my email - surely not to renew his prescriptions ?

[boxtops]

He's supposed to be checking in weekly with the Scottish authorities - that's why (he's not been in touch for a couple of weeks, that's why they were looking for him).

[DTCwordfan]

So the Scots already have an Embassy abroad - tell us where they are if there are more than Tripoli....

[tamborine]

Why Boxy....not as though they could enforce any authority on him in Libya.

[ludwig]

I don't know if there was a fit up or anything jake, but I do know he should never have been released. Having said that, we haven't had to pay his medical bills for the last few years so, every cloud etc.

[Zeuhl]

<<I don't know if there was a fit up or anything jake, but I do know he should never have been released. >>

I'm confused - if you're not sure whether there was a 'fit up or anything' why are you so adamant that he shouldn't have been released?

[wolf63]

I think that the Scottish authorities made the right decision in releasing him.

I wonder if he is still getting free prescriptions from Scotland.

[sandyRoe]

Even if he had a hand in the bombing, which is doubtful, he was just a foot soldier who had the misfortune to be on a losing side.
Think back to Bloody Sunday in Derry. The soldiers who committed murder that day were never going to be called to account. And the relatives of those killed didn't want that because they knew that the higher ups were the real guilty ones.

[ludwig]

// I'm confused - if you're not sure whether there was a 'fit up or anything' why are you so adamant that he shouldn't have been released? //

He was a convicted mass murderer.

I assume Jake's reference to a 'fit up' is to do with whether the killer was released early because of shady dealings about oil and pressure brought to bear by the British Government - not about whether he was guilty or not.

[Brinjal]

I believe Megrahi was innocent but however if he put his hand up for it because of a deal he may have with gaddafi then he deserved to do the time. He has been released and no one is asking for him so no need for the lybians to send him back. Sometimes different drugs can prolong life. Maybe he had access to better drugs there than he could get on the national health.

[Euphemia]

He was on some wonder drug developed in London but not yet available in the UK. http://www.telegraph....rsary-of-release.html