Sins of omission

Usually I’m quite proud to be Scottish, but this week I’m not. I would also like to think of myself as humanist, but again, this week, I’m questioning this.

I am surprised, no, that’s too weak a word, I’m horrified and outraged by the return of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi to Libya. Megrahi was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the 2001 Lockerbie bombings which claimed 270 lives.

Even with my scant knowledge of Middle East politics, I could have foreseen that this man would return to a hero’s welcome.

I clearly remember driving past the field near Lockerbie when it was still being cleared of the plane debris. The scale of destruction, the incredibly sad and futile waste of innocent lives was almost palpable in the bleak Scottish borders. I cannot begin to imagine the sorrow and righteous anger of those who lost loved ones and who are now suffering all over again.

It saddens me too that the Scottish Prime Minister gave his impression of a Trappist monk, keeping a vow of silence on his fellow countryman’s controversial decision to allow a convicted terrorist, albeit with terminal cancer, to be released and repatriated. Gordon Brown was one of the last to comment; long after his own political counterparts on both sides of the house and Atlantic condemned the decision. His belated and ambiguous statement said he was ‘angry and repulsed’ at the Scottish flag-waving scenes on Megrahi’s return. He did not comment as to whether he agreed with the decision of release. Sins of omission Mr Brown and you a son of the manse!