Law and Rights
21st December 1988 was the day when Pan Am Flight 103 - a Boeing 747 en route from London Heathrow to New York - was destroyed by explosive devices which detonated as the aircraft, flying at Flight level 310 (31,000 ft) , approached the small Scottish town of Lockerbie. A great deal of information about this event may be read at Pan Am Flight 103 (Wikipedia). In all 270 people were killed: 243 passengers, 16 aircrew and 11 persons on the ground in Lockerbie.
The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) conducted an investigation into the causes of the accident and published their report in 1990.
Subsequently, a trial was held at Camp Zeist, Holland. Scots criminal law applied. Two men were accused: Abdelbaset Al Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah. The trial was conducted by three Scottish judges (Lords Sutherland, Coulsfield and Maclean) and was heard without a jury. Al-Megrahi was convicted of murder. Al Fhimah was acquitted.
Al-Megrahi died in Tripoli on Sunday 20th May - The Guardian 21st May 2012 and it is reported that David Cameron has dismissed the possibility of a UK inquiry into the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
Earlier Law and Lawyers post - December 2011
Scottish Government: See the statement by Scotland's First Minister and also links to various materials connected to the return to Libya of al-Megrahi.
- Civil Aviation Safety In The Uk
The Daily Mail 12th August published an item concerning the Irish airline Ryanair - Ryanair pilots 'bullied into silence over safety...' I have no idea whether the allegations in the article are true, partially true or false. ...
- Air Accident Investigation Branch Reports - Admissibility In Evidence At Civil Proceedings
In civil aviation, few reports are more respected than those of the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). The AAIB undoubtedly seeks to ensure that its investigations are as thorough as possible and that any recommendations...
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The Prime Minister is in Washington amidst the political row which has broken out over BP. Apart from the "Deep Horizon" oil disaster, the Americans are angry with BP in connection with the release of al-Megrahi ("the Lockerbie bomber"). The...
- That Was The Week That Was ...
This week has seen some interesting matters. The present government has said that the return of convicted Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi to Libya was a "mistake" - see The Guardian 16th July. Of course, they mean that it was a mistake made...
- The Eyjafjallajokull Glacier: Volcanic Activity In Iceland
Volcanaic activity in Iceland has resulted in a decision to "ground" most flights in/over U.K. airspace. The activity is associated with the Eyjafjallajokull glacier. The rights of many airline passengers affected by this could depend on the...
Law and Rights
Lockerbie - Death of Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi
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| Lockerbie Memorial |
21st December 1988 was the day when Pan Am Flight 103 - a Boeing 747 en route from London Heathrow to New York - was destroyed by explosive devices which detonated as the aircraft, flying at Flight level 310 (31,000 ft) , approached the small Scottish town of Lockerbie. A great deal of information about this event may be read at Pan Am Flight 103 (Wikipedia). In all 270 people were killed: 243 passengers, 16 aircrew and 11 persons on the ground in Lockerbie.
The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) conducted an investigation into the causes of the accident and published their report in 1990.
Subsequently, a trial was held at Camp Zeist, Holland. Scots criminal law applied. Two men were accused: Abdelbaset Al Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah. The trial was conducted by three Scottish judges (Lords Sutherland, Coulsfield and Maclean) and was heard without a jury. Al-Megrahi was convicted of murder. Al Fhimah was acquitted.
Al-Megrahi died in Tripoli on Sunday 20th May - The Guardian 21st May 2012 and it is reported that David Cameron has dismissed the possibility of a UK inquiry into the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
Earlier Law and Lawyers post - December 2011
Scottish Government: See the statement by Scotland's First Minister and also links to various materials connected to the return to Libya of al-Megrahi.
- Civil Aviation Safety In The Uk
The Daily Mail 12th August published an item concerning the Irish airline Ryanair - Ryanair pilots 'bullied into silence over safety...' I have no idea whether the allegations in the article are true, partially true or false. ...
- Air Accident Investigation Branch Reports - Admissibility In Evidence At Civil Proceedings
In civil aviation, few reports are more respected than those of the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). The AAIB undoubtedly seeks to ensure that its investigations are as thorough as possible and that any recommendations...
- Should There Be No Room For Compassion In Some Cases?
The Prime Minister is in Washington amidst the political row which has broken out over BP. Apart from the "Deep Horizon" oil disaster, the Americans are angry with BP in connection with the release of al-Megrahi ("the Lockerbie bomber"). The...
- That Was The Week That Was ...
This week has seen some interesting matters. The present government has said that the return of convicted Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi to Libya was a "mistake" - see The Guardian 16th July. Of course, they mean that it was a mistake made...
- The Eyjafjallajokull Glacier: Volcanic Activity In Iceland
Volcanaic activity in Iceland has resulted in a decision to "ground" most flights in/over U.K. airspace. The activity is associated with the Eyjafjallajokull glacier. The rights of many airline passengers affected by this could depend on the...