Review into Lockerbie bombing ‘is not enough’

Oct 26 2009 by David Black, The Journal

THE parents of a North East man who died in the Lockerbie bombing have welcomed a police review of the case – but said it falls short of their ultimate aim of a full-scale inquiry into the atrocity.

Barrie and Jean Berkley, of Northumberland – whose son Alistair, 29, was among the 270 people killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town in December 1988 – said it was ‘absolutely scandalous’ there has never been a full, independent inquiry into what happened.

It comes as the Scottish Government and Whitehall are in dispute about who would be responsible for any future investigation.

Yesterday it emerged British victims have now been told police in Scotland are following several new lines of inquiry, including a review of forensic evidence.

It follows the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al Megrahi, the only man to be convicted of the bombing, and his return to Libya in August on compassionate grounds.

TV reports claimed last week he had died, but that was later revealed to be incorrect.

News of the fresh police work emerged after members of a Lockerbie families’ group handed in a letter at 10 Downing Street on Friday, asking for a meeting with Gordon Brown to discuss renewed calls for a full independent inquiry into the bombing.

Mr and Mrs Berkley, of Sandhoe near Hexham, are leading members of the UK Families Flight 103 group. Yesterday Mr Berkley, 80, said the further police investigation into what happened was a ‘useful move’, but was not the ultimate aim of victims’ families.

“This was the worst air disaster in British history, with 270 people killed, and we think it is absolutely scandalous there has never been a full explanation of what happened,” he said.