HUME CONDEMNS REPORTS THAT LOCKERBIE BOMBER WILL BE FREED

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Aug 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today commented on reports that the Lockerbie bomber is to be released on compassionate grounds.

Jim Hume MSP said:

"If this decision is confirmed then it is wrong in principle, wrong in practice and sets the wrong precedent.

"This is a man who was convicted in a Scottish court under the eyes of the world of the worst atrocity in Scotland in modern times.

"In a case like this it is difficult to see why the Scottish Government seems to have weighted the balance of compassion in favour of the criminal and against the interests of the victims, their families and the general public."

ENDS