Megrahi Medical Evidence should be released as well

Scottish Conservatives have called on the Scottish Government to release more information on the reasons that led to the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

The Scottish Government is introducing primary legislation to enable the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission publish the Statement of Reasons which led to al-Megrahi's second appeal. The policy memorandum to the Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill states that data protection legislation as well as 'other potential obstacles' are likely to be relevant in the future should the Bill be passed.

Confidentiality and privacy laws have been cited by the Scottish Government in the past to justify its decision not to release full medical records.

Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesman, David McLetchie MSP said:

"The Scottish Government is pursuing the publication of the Statement of Reasons even though it says it 'does not doubt the safety of the conviction of Al-Megrahi'.

"If any information is to be released then it should be all the medical evidence as to why the SNP Government set al-Megrahi free, something it has consistently refused to do.

"The Scottish Government acknowledges that laws relating to data protection, privacy and confidentiality may have to be overcome to allow the Statement of Reasons to be released, but claims this is justified because of the exceptional nature of the Megrahi case.

"The early release of the worst mass murderer in British history is equally exceptional so why won't the Scottish Government release the medical records referred to in the medical report of Dr. Andrew Fraser, the Scottish Prison Service's Director of Health and Care, which was the basis of the 'three months to live' justification.

"If Kenny MacAskill wants to prove that releasing Britain's worst mass murderer was the right call then he must make available all the medical evidence on which his decision was based. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi has now been at liberty for well over two years despite allegedly having less than three months to live. With every day that passes, the SNP Government looks more and more foolish and until all the evidence is published, that will not change."

The 3-page-long medical report published by the Scottish Government in August 2009 is available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/lockerbie/CompassionateReleasePro/medical-report

At point g) it contains a reference to 'relevant medical records' attached in a sealed envelope.

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