The Lockerbie Bombing: The Search for Justice

by Kenny MacAskill

On 21 December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 departed London Heathrow for New York. Shortly after take-off, a bomb detonated, killing all aboard and devastating the small Scottish town of Lockerbie below. Only one man has ever been convicted of the crime: Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, though few believe that he acted alone.

In 2009, a request was made by Libya for al-Megrahi's release from prison on compassionate grounds after he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The decision to grant or deny that request fell squarely and exclusively on the shoulders of one man: Kenny MacAskill, Scotland's Justice Secretary from 2007 to 2014.

Detailing the build-up to the atrocity and the carnage left in its wake, MacAskill narrates the international investigation that followed and the diplomatic intrigue that saw a Scottish court convened in the Netherlands. He describes the controversial release of al-Megrahi, explains the international dimensions involved and lays bare the commercial and security interests that ran in the background throughout the investigation and trial. Finally, he answers how and why it happened - and who was really responsible for the worst terrorist attack to have occurred on British soil before or since.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2016

About the author

Kenny MacAskill was MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh and Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government between 2007 and 2014. He studied law at the University of Edinburgh and was a senior partner in an Edinburgh law firm before being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Reviews

[Jason RB]

Really interesting book, on the events leading up to the release on compassionate grounds of Al Megrahi. There is not much in here that if you know about the Lockerbie bombings you won't already know however it is well put together and there are links that I personally hadn't made.

In some ways I expected Macaskill to come out swinging however on the whole I think he is fair to most. However for the US and UK governments it probably won't make for comfortable reading.

I have always thought that Al Megrahi was innocent, however on reading this book I am now not so sure however there is nothing in this book that makes me think Al Megrahi shouldn't of been convicted on the basis that there is a more than a sack full of doubts about the evidence given.

The style is a little on the dry side and the vocab had me reaching for a dictionary from time to time but MacAskill is a lawyer so comes with the territory. My other niggle is the habit of repeating himself on points even within the same chapter (i have read a few books that have suffered from this recently so not sure if this is the current style). Other than that it is a very enjoyable book, well written and takes you through the story with great ease.

Last point Kenny MacAskill throughout this period is someone I have a lot of admiration for. His speech on the reasons for releasing Al Megrahi on compassionate grounds is one of the times that I have been exceptional proud to be Scottish. In this day and age when the focus is on who to blame and revenge it is nice to be reminded that Judeo-Christian faiths are based upon Love, forgiveness and compassion.

[Graeme]

This book is at its strongest in setting out Kenny MacAskill's reasons for releasing Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. I find the reasoning behind his belief in the safety of Megrahi's conviction less persuasive. He is at pains to stress that those involved in the investigation and prosecution carried out their roles with diligence, integrity and "to the best of their abilities", but that does not necessarily mean that the court at Camp Zeist arrived at the correct verdict. At points (eg. p. 139) MacAskill seems to come close to suggesting that the verdict was ordained by geopolitical requirements.

MacAskill is good on the diplomatic shenanigans that secured the trial at Camp Ziest and the significant changes made to Scottish legal procedure, including dispensing with a jury to rule out the possibility of a plea of tainting as a result of prejudicial reporting. He also highlights the court's curious reasoning in relation to Tony Gauci's evidence about the umbrella and weather conditions in Sliema on 7 December 1988. However, I find it odd that he twice refers to circumstantial evidence suggestive of Megrahi's involvement in the Lockerbie atrocity and other "dubious affairs" (for which he was not, of course, on trial) as "damning" when it seems to me to fall well short of that, leaving considerable room for reasonable doubt.

Instances of unnecessary repetition, particularly in the introductory chapter, are suggestive of the book being written in some haste. It would have benefited from more rigorous editing.

[Keith Walters]

Well written summary of what happened in buildup to MacAskill decision. Noticeably no criticism of police officers /officials allowed. He is obsessed with the decision to release Megrahi being his own decision and no one else - is this to prove he was not leant on by other governments and or to protect his First Minister from any hint of criticism.? He believes Megrahi was guilty and that the triumphant return to Libya didn't really happen.

[J.J.]

I cannot praise this book enough. MacAskill has written a book that reads like a thriller novel; is an exposé of the duplicity of the British and US governments yet flows with the milk of human kindness.
Under extreme pressure he acted with integrity and a sense of justice. Bar Nelson Mandel, Kenny MacAskill has no equal.

[Claudia]

On December 21, 1988, Pan Am flight 103 from Frankfurt, Germany to Detroit, Michigan with stops in London and New York City ended abruptly over Scotland and the plane remains crashed into the earth in and about the village of Lockerbie, killing all 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 residents of the town.

It took over 10 years but two people were charged and tried for the crime of planting the explosive device that downed the plane. The trial - according to Scottish law - took place in the Netherlands - neutral ground and a secure area and Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted - eventually, as the trial was due to start in May of 2000 but was adjourned and finally concluded January 31, 2001. al-Megrahi was to serve his time in a Scottish prison and there he stayed.

The author was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice in May 2009 which is the governmental position with overview and responsibility for law and order in Scotland. So when there was an appeal for al-Megrahi to be released from Scotland to Libya on compassionate grounds - he was dying of prostate cancer - it was MacAskill that had to consider the request.

This books details the minute evaluation and careful consideration that MacAskill took while investigating and assessing not only the law but talking with the families of the victims. As Scottish law convicted him, it was Scottish law that would prevail. MacAskill made sure that all his deliberations were posted on the government website, being completely transparent about the entire situation. In August 2009, al-Megrahi was released and returned to his family in Libya and survived - with some controversial pharmaceuticals (not approved in Scotland) - until his death in May 2012.

What is interesting is that the United States as well as the United Kingdom seemed to be more interested in courting Libya not only for commercial concerns but military interests in the hopes that Gaddafi would assist the West verses Islamic extremism than avenging their citizens brutal deaths and finding those who committed the crime. This was just before Arab Spring and eventually Gaddafi was overthrown, his family and supporters either killed, imprisoned or gone underground.

No one else has ever been charged in the bombing and the case remains open. Supposedly, further investigations - from the Human Rights Watch and Wikileaks, among others - have determined that the reason for the bombing was vengeance. Tensions - already high between the United States and the Middle East - amped up when the USS Vincennes shot down a civilian Iranian aircraft killing all aboard in July 1988. Iran put out a bounty of $10 million to bring down a US plane and supposedly the group PFLP-GC (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command) stepped up to do the job with Syrian and Libyan government and splinter groups.

How much of that is true or just supposition by other groups wishing to make an impression on government agencies. But it is the insight in MacAskill's deliberation and considerations that is the focus and even from a non-legal standpoint, is quite interesting.

2022-226

[John]

As a factual account of the Lockerbie bombing and its aftermath, this book is very good. Having been vaguely attracted to some of the conspiracy theories on the issue, I found MacAskill convincing and thorough. He did, of course, have an inside seat at the events, at least in the latter stages. The book's weakness is that it's not a great read. At times it is repetitive, and MacAskill's need to justify his decisions (notably, to free the convicted bomber, who had terminal cancer), while understandable can be a little long-winded.

His discussion of the aftermath could also have made more of the extraordinary hypocrisy and double standards shown by the UK and US governments. Having regarded Libya as a terrorist country, they swallowed their reservationists about it, embraced Colonel Gaddafi (literally), then abandoned him when it became convenient to give partial backing to the 'Arab spring'.

MacAskill does, however, provide a very useful comment on one aspect of US diplomacy, that ‘the US sadly often adopts a position of seeking to enforce standards on others that it will not accept or abide by itself.’ I have already used the quote in a different context.

[Neil Arrowsmith]

Mixed feelings about this book. A lot of detail that focussed on the politics of the tragedy. I think i would feel a bit aggrieved reading this if I was closer to the events of that day as the victims are almost an afterthought or a sub-topic within the book. The book goes into great detail about the trial and the rationale behind giving Megrahi compassionate release. It also delves into too much detail about the security within the various airports and why the bag containing the bomb wasn’t identified within the check in and security procedures. It was an interesting read and the police side of it all made me uncomfortable in the fact that no matter what happens money and commercial interests will always take priority. The author clearly has significant issues with the British government at the time and if what he says is true then I fully understand why. It makes you wonder whether deals are being done currently with Putin while publicly denouncing the Ukraine invasion. Essentially this book confirms what most of us already know. Don’t trust politicians.