Bomber buried as law chief defends decision

Kenny MacAskill said he had made the “right decision for the right reasons” as he gave his reaction to the death of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Former Libyan intelligence officer Megrahi was sentenced to life in prison for the 1988 bombing of a US airliner over the Dumfries and Galloway town which claimed 270 lives.

He was later diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and controversially released from prison in August 2009, with an estimated three months to live, on compassionate grounds.

But Megrahi, who always proclaimed his innocence, proved medical experts wrong and finally lost his cancer battle in Tripoli yesterday at the age of 60, his son said.

Mr MacAskill, who was tasked with making the decision on Megrahi’s release, said: ““You have to deal with what comes before you. I didn’t choose to address this matter but it was my obligation as the Justice Secretary to address it.

“I did so without fear or favour, I did so following the rules and laws that we have in Scotland, based upon the evidence provided.”

Megrahi’s funeral took place in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

There were just under 100 family members and passers-by in attendance, in stark contrast with the hero’s welcome Megrahi received three years ago from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.