Lockerbie secret files ‘opened’

CLASSIFIED documents about the Lockerbie bombing will be examined by a special counsel as part of an appeal against the conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

The independent assessor, often an advocate, will have top-level clearance from the security services to see two files held by the UK Government.

The documents are covered by a public interest immunity certificate – an order restricting their release.

The development comes as it was announced an appeal against the conviction of Megrahi can start in November. The bombing of Pan Am flight 103, travelling from London to New York on December 1, 1988, killed 70 people in Britain’s largest terrorist atrocity.

Former Libyan intelligence officer Megrahi was found guilty in 001 of mass murder and jailed for life. He was released on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Government in August 009 after doctors said he had terminal prostate cancer and died in May 01 .

An appeal against his conviction was lodged after the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the case to the High Court in March, ruling a possible miscarriage of justice may have occurred.

A virtual hearing took place last Friday before Lord President Lord Carloway, Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian and Lord Menzies, where the legal team representing the Megrahi family outlined the grounds for their appeal.

Yesterday, the Megrahi family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said the court has allowed the appeal in relation to the argument that ‘no reasonable jury’ could have returned the verdict that the court did, and on the grounds of non-disclosure of documents by the Crown.

Mr Anwar said: ‘Today was an important milestone for the Megrahi family.’

PUGH IS AWAY