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Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, today announced his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. Here is his statement in full.
Mr MacAskill said: “It is my privilege to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Government of Scotland. It is a post in which I take great pride, but one which carries with it great responsibility.
“Never, perhaps, more so than with these decisions that I now have to make.
“On the evening of 21 December 1988 a heinous crime was perpetrated.
“It claimed the lives of 270 innocent civilians. Four days before Christmas, men, women and children going about their daily lives were cruelly murdered.
“They included 11 from one small Scottish town. That town was Lockerbie - a name that will forever be associated with the worst terrorist atrocity ever committed on UK soil.
“A prisoner transfer application has been submitted by the Government of Libya seeking the transfer of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
“The man convicted of those offences in the Scottish courts. He has also now sought to be released on compassionate grounds due to his prostate cancer that is terminal.
“This crime precedes both the election of our Government and even the restoration of a Parliament in Scotland.
“I now find myself having to make these decisions. However, the applications have been lawfully made, and I am obliged to address them.
“Final advice from my officials was given late on Friday 14 August 2009.
“I have now had an opportunity to reflect upon this.
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