Reply to your correspondence
Thank you for your correspondence relating to the decisions taken by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Mr MacAskill, on the applications regarding Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in replying; the sheer volume of correspondence received has resulted in an unusual delay.
The Lockerbie Air Disaster remains the worst terrorist atrocity on UK soil and Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands.
A prisoner transfer application was submitted by the Government of Libya seeking the transfer of Mr Al Megrahi. Mr Al Megrahi also applied to be released on compassionate grounds due to his prostate cancer that is terminal.
Mr MacAskill received and listened to many representations and considered substantial submissions on both applications. Mr MacAskill understands this is a difficult time and many will disagree with his decision. However, decisions had to be made.
Mr MacAskill rejected the Libyan Government’s application for prisoner transfer of Mr Al Megrahi and granted compassionate release to Mr Al Megrahi to return to Libya to die.
The text of Mr MacAskill’s statement and further documentation is available on our website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/lockerbie
Mr MacAskill thanks you kindly for your support.
Lockerbie Team
Scottish Government
It is quite alright, no need to apologize, as I understand how you would want to personally reply to every email and not send a sort of form letter. No wonder this took so much time.