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News

Megrahi to be released

66 replies

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 14:12

I admit that I don't know enough about the ins and outs of this case to say whether he did it or not (though it does look suspiciously like there has been a cover-up of at least some of the facts in the case). And I have no idea what my reaction to this news would be if I were a relative of one of the victims.

However, what is interesting is how there is really nothing very edifying in seeing the vengeful 'he should rot in hell' comments from some quarters. The guy whose daughter was killed who says that Megrahi should be allowed to go home to die seems so much more worthy of admiration, somehow.

What do other people think?

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frasersmummy · 20/08/2009 14:40

Like you I dont know the ins and outs of the case

but..

he was tried under scottish law and found guilty therefore he should serve his time. At the very least he should be made to serve the remainder of his sentence in libya

The people he blew up didnt have the option to go home and die in comfort.

I know christianity preaches forgiveness and turning the other cheek but this man has shown no remorse and therefore is not deserving of compassion

seems he is returning to a heros' welcome

AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 14:47

That's becuse he is a vicar and has dedicated his life to things like forgiveness. I don't know anyone who dies on the flight. But, I would certainly not be very forgiving.

I do wonder how this might impact US-UK relations because some AMercians will be VERY upset about this.

AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 14:49

I wonder if anyone will try to blow up his plane en route to Libya. Now that would be justice. Perhaps we could send him on an unmanned aircraft.

anyoldDMfucker · 20/08/2009 14:50

well he aints gonna be dying in comfort is he - cancer aint a nice death and i bet the level of care he gets in libya wont be of the same quality had he spent his final days/weeks/months drugged up to the eyeballs in pain relief courtesy of the nhs

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 14:57

I agree. Having watched my dad die of cancer , it's not a nice way to die. He has months to live. How does it make anyone feel better, or more vindicated if he dies in prison or somewhere else?

I believe (not sure of the facts though, so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) that it's actually rather unusual for people in this country to die in prison, if only because prisons don't have the necessary facilities to deal with the terminally ill or those with long-term conditions such as Alzheimers. Not so in the US, for example.

And Athene, I don't think it's because he's a vicar. It's because he thinks they have the wrong man.

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AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 14:57

I think that is very little consolation for people whose loved one's were blown up in the sky.

The fact that he is dying of cancer should not exempt him (or anyone) from doing his time. He killed 270 people! Why should we care about his comfort???

I, of course, base my opion in the belief that he is guilty. I have not considered all of the evidence but put my (blind) faith in the Scottish courts.

anyoldDMfucker · 20/08/2009 14:58

well thats what im saying he aint gonna be very comfortable dying of cancer in libya. if hed stayed in scotland hed have got nhs treatment and a more comfortable death.

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 15:00

I think it's about being the Bigger Man.

Sometimes, American justice seems not a million miles from the Eye for an Eye systems about which they throw up their hands in horror.

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AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 15:02

8 years for 270 lives can hardly be considered an eye for an eye.

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 15:05

It would still be 8 years if they kept him in though - he'll be dead in a few months.

And then how will the bereaved feel? Still bereaved? Or skipping lightly along through life?

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AMumInScotland · 20/08/2009 15:09

Well, since we do let people out of prison to go to nursing homes/hospitals near their family to die, I don't think it's so unreasonable to let this one do the same. If Ronnie Biggs can be let out on that basis, why not?

beckysharp · 20/08/2009 15:13

It hasn't really got much do with him personally, though, in a way. We need to cosy up to Libya because it has oil and natural gas and is not an extremist Islamic state. His release is a convenient olive branch...

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 15:14

Well yes Beckysharp. You probably have a point.

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AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 15:15

Oh the irony. That is normally an accusation reserved for the US. But, in this case, it is the US who is opposed to his release. Even the die hard Democrats (Hilary, Ted Kennedy, etc.)

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 15:16

Yes. Although I was a teency bit unconvinced by Hillary's declaration of disapproval.

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Uriel · 20/08/2009 15:22

To me, it feels like it was the right thing to do.

frasersmummy · 20/08/2009 15:37

I have just watched the footage with my 4 year old son ... and then we watched the plane climb into the sky from the front door .

I guess I gave my 4 year old a one sided picture as he said imagine letting him go - he might blow up another plane..

the simplicity of youth eh???

bentneckwine1 · 20/08/2009 15:54

My DS and I have just watched the coverage. We were discussing the speech made by the justice minister where he talked about treating him with compassion despite his actions. DS age 9 remarked 'it's like our golden rules at school - treat others as you would like them to treat you. Two wrongs do not make a right mum'.

We passed Lockerbie a few weeks ago and I told him a little of what had happened so DS was already familiar with the event. (We live in Scotland).

Saltire · 20/08/2009 15:59

Having given this a lot of thought since I did a thread about this last week, I've decided I won't be very forgiving. 270 people died. He was tried according to Scots law and was found guilty. His wife and family live in Glasgow, so it's not as if leaving the country is going home to die is it, becasue his home should be wherever his fmaily are (IMO anyway). personally I think he should have stayed in jail - even a Libyan oen would be better than none

louii · 20/08/2009 15:59

I thought the Justice Minister made a very good and thorough speech, he was faced with a decision that no one would have wanted to make.

I think it was the right decision.

Daytee · 20/08/2009 16:03

I don't think this is a matter of forgiveness but I think it's important to put one's self in the victims' families shoes. If one of the 9/11 bombers was released how would we feel?

bentneckwine1 · 20/08/2009 16:04

louii...I too thought it was an excellent speech and very confidently delivered. I especially liked the comments about the Scottish persona and the weight of justice balanced with the gift of mercy.

bentneckwine1 · 20/08/2009 16:06

and the part about a sentence imposed by a higher authority than any court...and one that cannot be revoked or over ruled

SoupDragon · 20/08/2009 16:13

He's not going to die in comfort, he's going to die in pain and distress. Whether he does that in Libya or in the UK as a burden on the prison service/NHS is kind of beside the point.

It is about being the bigger man. This won't change anything - leaving him to die in an NHS hospital wouldn't have changed anything.

midnightexpress · 20/08/2009 16:13

daytee, that was the point I ws trying to make earlier. I have no idea if I could be big enough to want compassion for him if I was a relative, but I do hope I would. The families' pain and bereavement don't go away, whether he dies in prison or with his family.

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