This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Statement from Jim Wallace on Lockerbie Trial
31/01/2001
Commenting on the conclusion of the Lockerbie trial at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands, Justice Minister Jim Wallace said:
"On December 21, 1988, Pan Am flight 103 from London to New York exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. A town just 10 miles from where I was born and grew up.
"On that fateful night 270 families lost sons, daughters, husbands, wives, grandsons and grand daughters. It is impossible to put into words the effect this tragedy has had on those families.
"More than twelve years on a Scottish court has reached its verdict after a full and careful consideration of all the evidence placed before it. As with any guilty verdict, it is open to the accused to appeal and it would not, therefore, be proper for me, as Justice Minister, to comment in any way.
"It would however be remiss of me not to thank those whose efforts have enabled this trial to take place. We are grateful to the Dutch Government for their co-operation and help in mounting this trial, and also to the United States Government for their assistance and to the United Nations for facilitating the arrangements.
"As Justice Minister I would like to put on record my thanks to all the Scottish authorities who have worked extremely hard in unique circumstances to enable the trial to go ahead in the Netherlands. I saw from my own visit to Camp Zeist last year the enormous scale of the project that was successfully carried out by the Scottish Courts Service, the Scottish Prison Service and the eight Scottish police forces, and in particular the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, to put all the necessary facilities in place.
"I would also like to thank the judicial, police, and prosecuting authorities in the many countries that assisted in the investigation and in making evidence available at the trial.
"Over the past 9 months the Scottish Justice system has been placed under unprecedented international scrutiny from the public, the media and legal observers all across the globe. Irrespective of what verdict had been passed down today I think I can say with confidence that Scottish justice has stood up well to that scrutiny.
"The trial has reached a conclusion today. My thoughts are with the families of the 259 people killed on board Pan Am flight 103 and the 11 residents of Lockerbie who were killed in their homes. The consequences of this horrific crime will live on with them for ever."
News Release: SE0194/2001
31 Jan 2001