Al-Megrahi fights for life as health deteriorates

General

Saturday, 14 April 2012 00:51

By Martin Kelly

Mr Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Libyan fighting to clear his name after being convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, has been rushed to hospital after his health suddenly deteriorated.

Mr Megrahi has received an emergency blood transfusion according to his brother, Abdulhakim and is said to be fighting for his life.

Released from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds in 2009, the man universally known as ‘the Lockerbie Bomber’ has protested his innocence ever since his conviction in 2001.

The compassionate release sparked controversy in Scotland with Unionist politicians and media supporters attacking the decision by Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill.

However, a recent documentary cast doubt over the evidence presented at Mr Megrahi’s trial and a book published last month revealed the discoveries made by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission that suggested the Libyan may have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

Newsnet Scotland also revealed that former Lord Advocate, and now Labour peer, Colin Boyd may have deliberately misled the Court during the trial of the Libyan, and other revelations have since suggested that the testimony of key witness Tony Gauci was unreliable and three million US dollars had been paid to Mr Gauci and his brother.

Scrutiny of the events surrounding the downing of Pan Am 103 has been hampered by misreporting by elements of the UK media, including the BBC, and fact has been intertwined with deliberate fabrication and conflation.

Some of the more outrageous reports included one that suggested Mr Megrahi could live for a further twenty years.

Others, like BBC Scotland’s Gary Robertson and the Scotsman newspaper, claimed that the dying Libyan had ‘confessed’ on his deathbed. Most, like the two examples, were revealed to have been false.

As Mr Megrahi’s health deteriorates, the calls for a full inquiry into the events of the fateful night will surely amplify.

Comments

# UpSpake 2012-04-14 07:34

When Megraghi passes, his family can take up the case to clear his name. If the legal establishment can’t address their failings here, then it might be up to others to expose them. Far better they step up to the plate, it will be a lot less messier if they do. However, entrenched attitudes and worst of all – ego, will be at play here. The edifice will have to crack, one way or the other !.

# Aplinal 2012-04-14 09:06

No doubt the ghouls will be delighted at this man’s imminent passing. An innocent ‘patsy’ in the geo-political games that the USA/UK played, with the connivance of the Libyan government.

Following the release of the report on the possible miscarriage of justice, why has the media remained so quiet? Why have we allowed this disgraceful episode in Scottish “justice” to go unchallenged by the powers that be? Will the Scottish government now hold a public enquiry of its own? Do we have the power to do so?

Until there is a full enquiry, or a retrial jun absentia, there will never be justice for the victims of the bombing, their families, or for Megrahi.

# edinburgh quine 2012-04-14 10:33

As a devolved government, perhaps not Aplinal, but as an independent one, we sure as heck will. I hope, along with Willie MacRae’s unexplained demise, such investigations will be front and centre in an Independent Scotland

# Fungus 2012-04-14 09:18

I can see the Reporting Skintland headlines. Megrahi eventually dies even though Kenny MacAskill said he would have been gone in 3 months and he should have been kept in the jail anyway…we have an exclusive report from a load of American Senators and a patronising English Tory. In other news a dug is stuck up a tree in Tignabruich and some football team might not beat another one.

# UpSpake 2012-04-14 09:19

Aplinal. The majority administration fashions itself as a government, which I support. Therefore being a government, they have all the power/powers they need. Should there be a technicality and they require a specific power then all they have to do is pass an Act enabling them. That’s what governments do. Bit out of reach of Parish Councils ?.
It’s step up to the plate time, no more delays/excuses !.

# Jim Johnston 2012-04-14 10:07

It’s my long held opinion that the problem with “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”, is less a problem concerning the “guilty” verdict, and more about the guilt of our Scottish legal system and USA / UK Governments shenanigans.

# ianbeag 2012-04-14 10:12

O/T but important. Here are links to four important ‘internal’ BBC videos with briefings on the referendum debate at the BBC College of Journalism from key opinion formers – Andrew Neill, Stephanie Flanders, Brian Taylor and Nick Robinson. They demonstrate the BBC’s Unionist credentials in the run-up to the referendum. Notice particularly ‘Brillo’s’ selective arguments with some gems from ‘Blubber’
youtu.be/3UhHgvCLX8s
www.youtube.com/…/
www.youtube.com/…/
www.youtube.com/…/

Well worth watching.

# Robert Louis 2012-04-14 10:42

The BBC unbiased and impartial??? Dinnae think so.

# ituna semea 2012-04-14 11:08

The clue is in the initials.

# Aplinal 2012-04-14 12:12

This deserves a separate blog. What these people are saying is boll*x. How they expect to get away with this is absurd.

# Nation Libre 2012-04-14 12:36

Agree, this is big. How can we download copies of these before they are pulled?

# Roll_On_2011 2012-04-14 22:35

Nation Libre

“ Agree, this is big. How can we download copies of these before they are pulled? “

Try: keepvid.com/

Just load the UTube URL into the Address bar in KeepVid (at the top) and download it. A number of formats are supported.. I use MP4.

# Nation Libre 2012-04-14 12:34

Just started watching these, surely this is proof of BBC bias. Internal biefing of the BBC political commentators against the SNP. Why isn’t this getting huge coverage?

# Marga B 2012-04-14 14:17

Is this what Scots are paying their BBC licences for? Scary.

# Barontorc 2012-04-14 11:09

For the love of the wee man in Scotland – it is essential that a full public inquiry be held by the Scottish Government into the correctness of the Al Megrahi verdict with all evidence examined and previously seen evidence re-examined.

If there are loose-ends left that cannot be dealt with directly, these must be attributable to persons or countries and should be shown as such.

Enough is enough.

# Soixante-neuf 2012-04-14 12:33

Interesting article here.

www.scottishreview.net/…/

With follow-up.

vetpath.co.uk/…/photoid.pdf
vetpath.co.uk/…/airports.pdf

# DavieB 2012-04-14 11:21

O/T A bag of rifles and semtex has been found in a field near a house near bearsden. Now is it just me or could this be another ploy by the Brittish Gov to maybe blame Nationalists for a terror campaign like MI5/MI6 did 40 yrs ago. Look at the pictures and ask yourself what was the photographer doing up a tree?
As i said, it might be me but summats not right about this.

# gus1940 2012-04-14 17:49

That was my first thought when the story broke but the MSM seem to think it is connected with Glasgow Gangsters (I don’t mean The Glasgow Labour Council).

# Dundonian West 2012-04-14 12:08

O/T.John Swinney going to Far East next week to fight Scotland’s corner in battle for jobs and investment into Scotland.
I wish him well.
Doing it as a Scottish Minister,not as a UK government afterthought.
Come independence,th e eyes of the world and businesses will be on this newly independent country.
A great opportunity for more jobs in a difficult world—–there’s a great deal of goodwill out there towards Scotland.

scotsman.com/…/…
Vote YES in referendum.

# FREEDOM1 2012-04-14 16:32

Dundonian – I wonder if John swinney has cleared this trip with our masters at the lords trough? Remember that is one of the ammendments in the scotland bill.
For foulkes sake John ye cannae go wondering aroun makin a mess o things on yer own. Thats a joab for the Ginger Rodent. He,s a lot better at it and he,s one o us traitor jocks.

# Dundonian West 2012-04-14 16:42

“Lords trough”. £300 expenses per day—TAX FREE,and for what?
We must be daft.

# mato21 2012-04-14 12:21

Osaka one of the destinations are aware of the SNP, A.Salmond and the ref

From the Japan Times

japantimes.co.jp/…/….

# CapnAndy 2012-04-14 12:32

Good article.
Referring to Westminster as:
“An inept and untrusted national government”
Couldn’t have put it better myself.

# Dundonian West 2012-04-14 12:37

mato21.A MUST read from Japan.
Scottish Unionist press—take note how it’s done with high standards of journalism—-from the OTHER side of the world.
japantimes.co.jp/…/…
“Whatever shape the referendum takes, it appears that Salmond’s vision of a future,belongin g to a “small, nimble and fleet-footed nation with big ambitions” will continue to have strong appeal for voters frustrated by the lumbering politics of London”

# Sannymac 2012-04-14 12:46

Mato21: An excelent article. As other commentators have said this should be the standard of journalism in this country. In addition we ned and must get to the bottom of this charade of legal obfuscation sourounding the Megrahi case. The Scottish Leagal system need to be cleaned.

# rhymer 2012-04-14 19:48

Is there anybody left who actually thinks
that Al-Megrahi was guilty ?

# Soixante-neuf 2012-04-14 22:30

Sadly, yes. I could write you a list.

Here’s a sample.

forums.randi.org/…/

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Al-Megrahi fights for life as health deteriorates

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