Lockerbie bomber release not discussed by SNP Cabinet ahead of final decision

dailyrecord.co.uk:

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.The National Records of Scotland has published cabinet documents from 2009, including on Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's release from prison on compassionate grounds by former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.The former Libyan intelligence officer was the only man convicted over the murder of 270 people when PanAm flight 103 exploded over Dumfries and Galloway in 1988.

All 259 passengers and crew travelling to the US and 11 people on the ground were killed in what remains Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack.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.Only sparse mentions of Megrahi are made, according to minutes, including an acknowledgement by MacAskill of an application by the Libyan government for Megrahi’s release.“Mr MacAskill said that on behalf of Scottish ministers, he was considering the formal application made by the Libyan government on May 5 2009 for the transfer of Abdelbaset Ali Al-Megrahi under the terms of the prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Libya,” the papers said in June that year.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