Lockerbie bomber with prostate cancer may be freed to go home

The Libyan intelligence agent serving a life sentence for the Lockerbie bombing may be freed and returned home because he is suffering from advanced cancer. Talks have been held between Libyan and British officials over Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi who is said by his lawyer to be so seriously ill that it would be "unwise" to predict his life expectancy.

It is unclear whether an agreement to repatriate Megrahi would mean the end to an appeal he has launched to quash his conviction over the destruction of PanAm flight 103, leading to 270 deaths in December 1988.

The SNP administration at Holyrood confirmed yesterday that it would consider freeing the 56-year-old Libyan, now in Greenock prison, on compassionate grounds. Diplomatic sources told The Independent preliminary discussions had been held with Libyan government representatives.

Megrahi was tested for cancer at Inverclyde Royal Hospital last month. His lawyer, Tony Kelly, said: "Following tests, Mr al-Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the disease has spread to other parts of his body and is therefore at an advanced stage".

The Libyan is appealing against the guilty verdict passed at the trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands in 2001 and Mr Kelly said the case would continue. "He wishes to make it clear that the fight to overturn his wrongful conviction for the Lockerbie bombing will go on. We on his legal team are continuing to prepare his appeal, which we hope will be next year."

Alex Neil, the SNP MSP for Central Scotland, said: "In light of Mr al-Megrahi's illness, I am calling on the Crown office to bring forward this trial and not to cause any further delays. It is in the interest of natural justice that an appeals trial takes place early in 2009."

Some members of the victims' families have said they would not object to Megrahi's early release. Jim Swire, whose daughter, Fiona, was killed, said: "I think the cancer is a very serious threat to his life and it would be a tragedy if he is to spend what is left of the rest of his life in a Scottish prison, particularly if he is not guilty of the crime of which he was found guilty."

A spokesman for the Scottish government at Holyrood said: "One of the options would be to ask for compassionate leave. It would be up to Scottish ministers to make the decision, but a request has not been received."

Diplomatic sources said a full appeal hearing would not be feasible if Megrahi's condition continued to deteriorate. They also said it was "unlikely" the UK Government would insist that the Libyan government kept him in custody if he was released.

Will the Lockerbie bomber with prostate cancer be freed to go home?