Police boss dismisses Lockerbie case claims

Oct 28 2009 by Jackie Grant, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE REGION’S top cop has rubbished claims that a new investigation into the Lockerbie bombing will take place.

Chief Constable Patrick Shearer said that there will only be a review of the evidence to see if any further lines of inquiry can be explored.

He stressed it was not a re-launch of the police investigation.

National newspaper reports at the weekend suggested that a fresh investigation would concentrate on identifying the accomplices of convicted bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

However, Chief Constable Shearer said: “The case remains open and Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary continues to work closely with the Crown Office.

“Throughout the investigation we have, at various times, conducted reviews of the evidence as a whole in an attempt to identify further lines of inquiry that may be explored.

“Now that Mr al-Megrahi has decided to abandon his appeal against conviction a further review of the case is under way in respect of others who acted with him in the murder of 270 people.

“Reports of the police investigation being re-launched are inaccurate.

“The work that is being undertaken is the latest in a series of reviews which have formed part of an investigative strategy in keeping with our determination to pursue every possible lead.

“We also take cognisance of the trial court’s acceptance of the Crown’s position that Mr al-Megrahi acted in furtherance of the Libyan Intelligence Service and did not act alone.

“It has been reported that new lines of inquiry are being pursued by my officers.

“I am concerned that the work that is being carried out in conjunction with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service could be misunderstood.

“As is the case in all major police investigations that remain open, good practice dictates that the evidence is reviewed at regular intervals.

“Recent events in the case simply bring about an appropriate time to take stock of all of the evidence gathered to establish if any new investigative opportunities exist.

“It would not be appropriate for me to discuss the review in any further detail but I would like to emphasise this is not a re-launch of the police investigation.”

Megrahi, who was released from prison in August on compassionate grounds, is the only man to have been convicted of bombing PanAm flight 103 over Lockerbie.

Local man John Gair has welcomed the review because he believes there was a lot of other people involved in the bombing.

“Other people were named at the time but Gaddafi wouldn’t release them. The one thing a review won’t sort out is whether Megrahi was involved.

“But the thing that puzzles me is why he wanted to have a second appeal when he lost the first one. Why would he want another appeal if he was guilty?

“I’ve spoken to various senior policemen involved with the case over the years who are convinced they got the right man; but there are others like Dr Jim Swire who believe Megrahi is innocent.

“There is a complete range of opinions from people in the town, but I would love to know what the answer is.”