Lockerbie campaigners call for completely independent investigation into police report

Police Scotland said it is nearing the end of a three-year investigation into nine allegations made against police, prosecutors and forensic officials involved in the case.

The only man ever convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which saw 270 people die, was Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

However, campaigners believe Mr al-Megrahi was innocent and was wrongly convicted and say the Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC (pictured above) should not receive the report but that it should be given to an independent prosecutor.

The Lord Advocate himself has said he will not review the evidence and has appointed a QC to do so. The police have also asked an independent QC to look at the report.

But the Justice for Megrahi group do not think this goes far enough. Brian McConnachie QC (pictured right) said: “Having declared the allegations to be defamatory, unfounded, false and misleading, it is in my opinion impossible for any decision of the Lord Advocate arising out of the allegations to be seen to be impartial, objective or unbiased.”

Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens said: “While the Lord Advocate rightly enjoys independence and freedom from political influence when considering police reports into criminal acts, that consideration must be seen to be truly independent and not coloured by any bias or prejudice whatsoever.”

A Crown spokesman said: “The Lord Advocate has repeatedly made it clear that he has no involvement in dealing with the allegations nor will he have any involvement.”