Nov 18, 2019 this site is the official homepage of the victims of pan am flight 103, inc. He said he had also pressed frank mulholland, the lord advocate and scotland. Jim swire is recast as alan tealing, an academic rather than a doctor, who loses not only his daughter but also his wife when the plane is destroyed by an explosion over the town of lockerbie. Large sections of the aircraft, bodies and personal effects crashed onto residential areas of lockerbie, scotland, resulting in the deaths of a further eleven people on the ground. Jim swire stepping back from lockerbie fight uk news. Dr jim swire is a prominent lockerbie truth campaigner but theres more to the man than that, as michael russell found out obviously, inevitably, we talk about lockerbie. Tell us the truth the father of a woman who was killed in the lockerbie bombing has demanded british and us governments tell the truth about who was behind the attack. Dec 15, 20 jim swire, whose daughter died in the lockerbie bombing, believes libya was wrongly blamed for the atrocity in secret deal with iran over western hostages. Jim swire, whose daughter was killed in the bombing, said he was convinced megrahis conviction would be overturned if another appealed went ahead.
Jim swire, whose daughter died in the lockerbie bombing, holds the new book megrahi. Lockerbie relatives urge inquiry into suppressed evidence. New zealander niki caro whose previous films include the critically acclaimed whale rider is said to be developing a script for the film. Here, he explains his motivation and reveals what he hopes the trial will achieve. The website of dr jim swire and lockerbie researcher peter biddulph, in the case of abdel baset almegrahi, convicted in 2000 for the lockerbie bombing. Flora died when pan am flight 103 crashed at the town of lockerbie, scotland. A fictionalisation of jim swires quest to absolve the lockerbie bomber is too certain of abdelbaset almegrahis innocence alexander linklater sat.
Lockerbie visitor guide accommodation, things to do. On the morning of the books publication, announced at edinburghs 2012 international book. Apr 17, 2000 since the lockerbie disaster, dr jim swire has led a highprofile campaign for justice on behalf of uk relatives. Dr jim swire s efforts on behalf of the late abdelbaset almegrahi have been branded a disgraceful and expensive campaign by the victims of pam am flight 103 inc in a letter to the chair of the. Jane and jim swire the mystery surrounding fragment pt35b was examined in great detail by investigative author john ashton in his 2012 book megrahi.
Dec 05, 2018 on the evening of 21 december 1988, john parkes, an explosives engineer based in edinburgh, heard the news that a plane had crashed over the scottish border town of lockerbie. Jim swire today, left, and jim and wife jane holding photo of flora image. Jim swire, 82, whose daughter flora died in the bombing. Dr jim swires comments came as the fallout continued from the first extracts published of former justice secretary kenny macaskills book the lockerbie bombing. Mar 11, 2020 dr jim swire, father of flora swire who was 23 when she died in the bombing supported the application to appeal the conviction of abdelbaset almegrahi over the lockerbie atrocity. Us presidents commission on aviation security and terrorism london, february 12 1990 1 may 18 2020 on this day 30 years ago, dr. On the 25th anniversary of the atrocity, dr jim swire accuses the. Dr jim swire s comments came as the fallout continued from the first extracts published of former justice secretary kenny macaskills book the lockerbie bombing. Parkes called one of his employees, a former miner called geordie, and arranged to pick him up and drive the 70 or so miles south to the scene of the disaster. Dr jim swires efforts on behalf of the late abdelbaset almegrahi have been branded a disgraceful and expensive campaign by the victims of pam am flight 103 inc in a letter to the chair of the. Lockerbie an open letter from dr jim swire intel today. Herbert swire born 1936, best known as jim swire, is an english doctor best known for his involvement in the aftermath of the 1988 bombing of pan am flight 103, in which his daughter flora was killed. Families of some of the 270 people who died in the lockerbie bombing.
Lockerbie bombing victims relatives have urged the scottish government. Lockerbie bombing conviction crumbling, says jim swire. It was in 1988 that pan am flight 103 was blown out of the sky over the town of lockerbie in southern scotland. Dr swire was not entirely convinced by this indictment, but considered the lockerbie relatives search for truth and justice could be advanced if there were to be a trial, and especially if the trial were to be held in scotland. Dr jim swire has written the foreword to a new book to be launched today called scotlands shame. Was terry waite freed as part of secret lockerbie deal. In our search for truth, we relatives of the lockerbie bombing victims. Macaskill wrote that clothes in the suitcase used to carry the bomb were acquired in malta, though not by megrahi. Oct 03, 20 dr jim swire has written the foreword to a new book to be launched today called scotland s shame. Oct 04, 20 jim swire stepping back from lockerbie fight the father of a lockerbie bombing victim has announced he is to step back from the campaign to uncover the full facts about the tragedy. Glasgow, scotland it was an atrocity that occurred in the skies above scotland but shook the entire world the bombing of pan am flight 103 over lockerbie on december 21, 1988 remains the. Dec 01, 2018 another 11 perished in their homes when wreckage from pan am flight 103 hit the scottish village of lockerbie 30 years ago this month. On 20 december 1988, swires 23yearold daughter flora, who wanted to fly to the united states to spend christmas with her american boyfriend, had little difficulty in booking a seat on the next days half empty transatlantic pan am flight 103.
Dr jim swire calls on scottish government to institute inquiry into crown office lockerbie failings what follows is the text of a letter sent on 21 february by dr jim swire to scotlands first minister, alex salmond, and the cabinet secretary for justice, kenny macaskill. Speaking at a memorial service in westminster abbey on the 25th anniversary of. This is a very interesting part of the lockerbie case, details of which are fully explained in my book. Much of the town is built from red sandstone and the town hall stands out with its clock tower. Pan am flight 103 from london to new york is bombed midair over lockerbie, scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 people on the ground.
Lockerbie bomber abdelbaset almegrahi may have been. Dr jim swire explains why relatives will continue their fight to unearth all. Acclaimed film director jim sheridan wants oscar winner gary oldman to star as dr jim swire in his tv drama about the lockerbie bombing the awardwinning irish filmmaker is planning a. We are committed to seeking the truth about this tragedy and keeping the memory of our. He travelled to scotland and spent several weeks in lockerbie interviewing investigators and walking through the pastures where the plane had gone down. He said he had also pressed frank mulholland, the lord advocate and scotland s chief. The plea made by kate adie, desmond tutu, terry waite, tam dalyell and the father of one of the lockerbie victims, jim swire, among others claimed the perverse judgment had left the scottish criminal justice system a. On 21 december 1988, pan am flight 103 from frankfurt to detroit was destroyed by a bomb, killing all 243 passengers and sixteen crew. Margaret thatcher tried to limit lockerbie bombing compo. The person removed from the crash site was a lebanese man called jaffa.
A top director has revealed plans to make the story of the lockerbie bombing into a hollywood film. Megrahis part in the bombing has been called into question in a series of books and. John armand aired his lockerbie documentary on msnbc investigates at 11 p. Families welcome naming of new lockerbie suspects bbc news. The father of one of the 270 victims of the lockerbie bombing has asked. Audio george galloway discusses lockerbie with dr jim. The website of dr jim swire and lockerbie researcher peter biddulph, in the case of abdel baset almegrahi, convicted in 2000 for the lockerbie bombing our book.
Jim swire, whose daughter flora was among 270 people killed in the. Lockerbie lives with us, were part of lockerbie and. The books author john ashton, biographer of the libyan abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi, brands the case the greatest scandal of scotlands postdevolution era. My daughter, flora wanted to fly to the us to spend christmas with her american boyfriend. Among the 270 people who died when the boeing 747 exploded over south west scotland on. Large sections of the aircraft, bodies and personal effects crashed onto residential areas of lockerbie, scotland, resulting in. James roberston tells the story of tealings search to uncover the truth of almegrahis involvement, renamed as khalil khazar. Lockerbie has an agricultural past and was once home to scotlands largest lamb market.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Its only after the bodies are returned that the families. The one man convicted of this atrocity, the libyan abdelbaset almegrahi, died in 2012 from prostate cancer at home with his family in libya, having been given compassionate release from his prison in scotland. Margaret thatcher tried to limit lockerbie bombing compo cash.
How the lockerbie disaster haunts scotland, 30 years on. Kennedy airport, new york, when an explosion caused the aircraft to disintegrate and fall out of the sky. Pan am flight 103 was a regularly scheduled pan am transatlantic flight from frankfurt to detroit via london and new york. Mar 18, 2018 acclaimed film director jim sheridan wants oscar winner gary oldman to star as dr jim swire in his tv drama about the lockerbie bombing the awardwinning irish filmmaker is planning a. The book s author john ashton, biographer of the libyan abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi, brands the case the greatest scandal of scotland s postdevolution era. Apr 27, 2017 lockerbie an open letter from dr jim swire posted on april 27, 2017 by l the lockerbie trial is the most disgraceful miscarriage of justice in scotland for 100 years. New material revealed in book is said to raise doubts about the conviction of. Lockerbie an open letter from dr jim swire posted on april 27, 2017 by l the lockerbie trial is the most disgraceful miscarriage of justice in scotland for 100 years. Dr jim swire, whose daughter flora was killed in the bombing, said megrahis death was a.
Dec 22, 20 the father of one of the 270 victims of the lockerbie bombing has asked mourners to pray for the innocent family of the only person convicted of the worst mass murder in british history, as the. Scottish politician michael russell wrote a biography of jim swire. Jim swire and his wife jane comfort each other at their. Audio george galloway discusses lockerbie with dr jim swire. This site is the official homepage of the victims of pan am flight 103, inc. Herbert swire born 1936, best known as jim swire, is an english doctor best known for his. Jim swire is agonising over what to say on saturday in his address to a packed westminster abbey, marking the 25th anniversary of the lockerbie bombing. On 20 december 1988, swire s 23yearold daughter flora, who wanted to fly to the united states to spend christmas with her american boyfriend, had little difficulty in booking a seat on the next days halfempty transatlantic pan am flight 103. Mr anwar said he was instructed by the family of megrahi and also supported by dr jim swire, father of 23yearold bombing victim flora swire, and rev john mosey whose daughter helga mosey, 19. The father of one of the 270 victims of the lockerbie bombing has asked mourners to pray for the innocent family of the only person convicted of the worst mass murder in british history, as the. Lockerbie relatives urge inquiry into suppressed evidence uk. Speaking at a memorial service in westminster abbey on the 25th anniversary of the atrocity, dr jim swire described the bombing that. The local ice rink hosts top class curling events and at nearby dalton pottery you can paint your own pot to take home.
On 21 december 1988, n739pa, the aircraft operating the transatlantic leg of the route was destroyed by a bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew in what became known as the lockerbie bombing. Jun 08, 20 a fictionalisation of jim swire s quest to absolve the lockerbie bomber is too certain of abdelbaset almegrahis innocence alexander linklater sat 8 jun 20 10. Jim swire and his wife jane comfort each other at their home in the outskirts of birmingham near lockerbie, scotland june 25, 2000. It also blew apart the lives of her parents, dr jim and jane swire, forcing them on separate journeys as they sought to deal, in their individual. Lockerbie bomber almegrahis son moving to scotland to. Lockerbie bomber abdelbaset almegrahi may have been victim. James robertson on the lockerbie trial and his new novel. With his new book, that fictional exploration of scotlands past moves that. Motto of the pan am 103 passengers families your government and ours know exactly what happened but they are never going to tell. Megrahis release in 2009 outraged some relatives of the lockerbie victims, while others were skeptical of his guilt in the first place. Was terry waite freed as part of secret lockerbie deal with iran.
Dr jim swire, father of flora swire who was 23 when she died in the bombing supported the application to appeal the conviction of abdelbaset almegrahi over the lockerbie atrocity. This group is comprised of family members and friends of those whose lives ended when a terrorist bomb exploded on pan am flight 103 over lockerbie, scotland on december 21, 1988. On the evening of 21 december 1988, john parkes, an explosives engineer based in edinburgh, heard the news that a plane had crashed over the scottish border town of lockerbie. Another 11 perished in their homes when wreckage from pan am flight 103 hit the scottish village of lockerbie 30 years ago this month. Why lockerbie still matters to be published by birlinn on 3 october 20 will feature the targeting of bernt carlsson on pan am flight 103 remains to be seen. Jim swire stepping back from lockerbie fight the father of a lockerbie bombing victim has announced he is to step back from the campaign to uncover the full facts about the tragedy. Dec 17, 2019 pan am flight 103 from london to new york is bombed midair over lockerbie, scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 people on the ground. The search for justice tell that he does not believe that mr megrahi. Megrahis family hope his name will be cleared over lockerie. Since the lockerbie disaster, dr jim swire has led a highprofile campaign for justice on behalf of uk relatives. But dr jim swire, whose daughter died in the bombing, claimed that any. Lockerbie bomber may have been victim of miscarriage of.
Lockerbie bombing dr jim swires daughter flora was one of the victims of the bombing andrew milliganpa. Since losing his beloved daughter flora in that atrocity almost 25 years ago, dr jim swire has thought about little else. Herbert jim swire is a british doctor who is best known for his involvement in the aftermath of the 1988 lockerbie bombing, in which his daughter flora was killed. Jim swire and those with whom he stands on this matter. Scottish politician michael russell wrote a biography of jim swire in august 20 dr jim swire is a founder member of the justice for megrahi campaign group and is a signatory of its pe70 epetition which calls on the scottish. Every lawyer who has read the judgment says this is nonsense. Swire lobbied toward a solution for the difficulties in bringing suspects in the original bombing to trial, and later advocated for the retrial and release of abdelbaset almegrahi, the. On the morning of the book s publication, announced at edinburghs 2012 international book fair, prime minister david cameron described john ashtons account as an insult. The group, which was set up by dr jim swire, the father of one of the british victims of the bombing, is backing the push for an appeal. Flora died when it crashed at the town of lockerbie, scotland, killing 270 including 11 on the. Eleven residents of lockerbie were killed by plummeting wreckage which. Feb 27, 2012 jim swire, whose daughter died in the lockerbie bombing, holds the new book megrahi. Director of lockerbie tv drama bids for oscar winner gary.
492 806 278 1573 590 1433 197 811 742 878 1432 1463 1384 164 1290 359 813 751 105 57 1469 194 1029 146 1431 1434 95 1436 580 366 1304 67 567 1243