Lockerbie bomber abandons appeal

Updated: 15:48, Friday, 14 August 2009

The former Libyan agent jailed for life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has applied to abandon his second appeal against his conviction.

1 of 1 Abdel Basset al-Megrahi Dying of cancer in prison
Abdel Basset al-Megrahi
Dying of cancer in prison

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, 57, who is dying of prostate cancer, must drop his appeal to be considered for repatriation under a prisoner transfer agreement signed by Britain and Libya.

Unconfirmed media reports this week said the Scottish government was planning to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

The court in Edinburgh will meet on Tuesday to consider the request, a spokeswoman said.

Megrahi is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years after being convicted in 2001 of bombing Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 and murdering 270 people.

Live Player

  • Next
  • 13:00 - 13:45

    RTÉ Radio - News at One (Studio Webcam)

  • 13:05 - 13:15

    RTÉ News and Weather

  • Later
  • 17:45 - 18:00

    Nuacht RTÉ

  • 18:01 - 18:35

    RTÉ News: Six One and Weather

News Quiz