Newly-released documents show the issue was barely mentioned in minutes of Scottish Cabinet meetings.
The release of the Lockerbie bomber was not discussed by the SNP cabinet ahead of a final decision being made. Newly released papers show the then First Minister Alex Salmond ’s top team was apparently kept in the dark about a move that had international repercussions.
Megrahi was later diagnosed with prostate cancer while serving his sentence in Scotland. According to newly released documents, no formal discussion was held among the cabinet, which included Salmond and deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon. In a cabinet meeting on August 18 – two days before the public announcement of the decision to release the prisoner – the papers read: “Mr MacAskill said that he is expected to be in a position to make a statement in relation to the prisoner transfer application and the application for compassionate release in the near future.”
MacAskill, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on the anniversary of the bombing a few weeks ago, said: “We do have rules for compassionate release which exist in Scotland.
SNP Scottish Labour Alex Salmond Kenny Macaskill Nicola Sturgeon BBC Scottish National Party Terrorism Dumfries Scottish Government Prisons Justice Galloway
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