Dr jim swire believes the truth has never been told about the death of his. A lockerbie disaster victims grandchildren gaze reflectively across the quiet land where their granddad died in britains worst terrorist. Since losing his beloved daughter flora in that atrocity almost 25 years ago. By martyn mclaughlin the scotsman, may 4, 2014 the father of a victim of britains worst terrorist atrocity has expressed hope that a new film about the tragedy will aid his 25year quest for justice. Family of libyan man jailed for lockerbie bombing can. Heres a short selection from the many personalities who appear in our book, which includes some fifty photographs. As you know in the book i went into some detail on this matter and i. Jim swire and his wife jane comfort each other at their home in the outskirts of birmingham near lockerbie, scotland june 25, 2000. Swire is perhaps the most famous member of the lockerbie. Wreck of pan am flight 103 rots in secret scrapyard. Dr jim swire, a veteran campaigner who lost his daughter in the lockerbie disaster, believes the movie could be the way the truth dawns for the public over the 1988 incident. Everything you need to know about the lockerbie disaster. 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.
Dr jim swire has written the foreword to a new book to be launched today called scotlands shame. Traces the history of lockerbie from the moments following the disaster through to the conclusion of the appeal. Lockerbie bomber abdelbaset almegrahi may have been victim. Margaret thatcher tried to limit lockerbie bombing compo cash. The book s author john ashton, biographer of the libyan abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi, brands the case the greatest scandal of scotlands postdevolution era. Its only after the bodies are returned that the families healing can begin dr jim swire, who lost his 23yearold daughter flora in the lockerbie bombing of 1988, recalls the harrowing task. Key elements of the lockerbie case terrorists who bombed pan am 103 over lockerbie on 21st december 1988 murdered two hundred and seventy passengers, crew and folk of the quiet scottish town of. 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. Lockerbie victims grandkids friendship with farmers who. Another 11 perished in their homes when wreckage from pan am flight 103 hit the scottish village of lockerbie 30 years ago this month.
How the whole world was sold a monstrous lie over lockerbie. Pan am flight 103 was a regularly scheduled pan am transatlantic flight from frankfurt to detroit via london and new york. You are my jury has raised new doubts about abdelbaset almegrahis conviction for the bombing of the pan am bombing above lockerbie in 1988. Jim sheridan plans film about lockerbie bombing film.
Swire also carried a fake bomb onto an aircraft as a demonstration of lax security. Apr 27, 2018 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. Lockerbie verdict a tragedy for scottish justice, says jim swire. 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. Nov 04, 2014 key elements of the lockerbie case terrorists who bombed pan am 103 over lockerbie on 21st december 1988 murdered two hundred and seventy passengers, crew and folk of the quiet scottish town of. Jim swire stands in front of a painting june 25, 2000. Sep 28, 2018 i have read the brilliant books by john ashton and morag kerr on the subject and have to say if you want a book to present all the evidence on this disaster then id recommend john ashton best. Sep 29, 2018 how the whole world was sold a monstrous lie over lockerbie. Pan am flight 103, flight of a passenger airliner operated by pan american world airways that exploded over lockerbie, scotland, on december 21, 1988, after a bomb was detonated. Dec 01, 2018 a lockerbie disaster victims grandchildren gaze reflectively across the quiet land where their granddad died in britains worst terrorist attack 30 years ago back then, these wreckage. There is also a book of remembrance at lockerbie public library and another at tundergarth church. Apr 25, 2014 jim sheridan plans film about lockerbie bombing the director will examine the aftermath of the bombing and the role of jim swire, whose daughter was killed and who met abdelbaset almegrahi, the. Jim swire, 82, whose daughter flora died in the bombing, described the document as callous and calculating. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
On the morning of the books publication, announced at edinburghs 2012 international book. Nelson mandela, desmond tutu, kate adie, noam chomsky, robert black qc, dr jim swire and 100s of influencial figures from politics, the media, churches and legal experts all have called for action to get real justice for the victims of the lockerbie disaster. Jim swire, the man who never gave up county gp dr jim swire s commitment to exposing lax airport security once led him to smuggle a fake bomb on board an aircraft. Lockerbie priest who tirelessly helped bereaved families forced to retire or risk losing his voice. The documents, seen by the times newspaper, revealed that then prime minister margaret thatcher was warned the families including dr jim swire, who lost his daughter flora in the disaster and rev john mosey, whose teenage daughter, helga, also died were becoming increasingly organised. Their 23 year old daughter flora was on board pan am flight 103 when it blew up over lockerbie, scotland almost 11 years ago.
Jim swire speaks about the mysteries surrounding the lockerbie disaster in the hours of the first news of the lockerbie murders, some relatives flocked to the town in vain hope of. Jim swire, 82, whose daughter flora died in the bombing. Jane and jim swire the mystery surrounding fragment pt35b was examined in great detail by investigative author john ashton in his 2012 book megrahi. More than 30 years on, scottish investigators are combing stasi files and quizzing former agents on suspicion that east germanys secret police was involved in the lockerbie air disaster. Lawyer hits out at british state over lockerbie papers. Jim swire are withholding publication of their new book pending certain developments in the investigation of the pan am 103 disaster. Dr jim swire, a veteran campaigner who lost his daughter in the lockerbie disaster, believes the movie could be the way the. Over breakfast, he read about the disaster in the inquirer. 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. Scottish politician michael russell wrote a biography of jim swire. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading adequately explained by stupidity. The move has the support of jim swire, who lost his daughter flora in the bombing of pan am flight 103. What follows is the text of a letter submitted to the times by dr jim swire, but not selected for publication, following a report in that newspaper on 4 october. I have been authorized by them to present on my website the following.
Author claims it wasnt libya who bombed the 747 jumbo jet and the prime suspect is alive and living in. 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. Jim swire stands in front of a painting june 25, 2000 in his home outside birmingham, uk, of his 23 year old daughter flora who was on board pan am flight 103 when it blew up over lockerbie, scotland almost 11 years ago. Let this be the year when the scottish criminal justice system gives clarity on lockerbie.
In lockerbie town hall council chambers, there is a stainedglass window depicting flags of the 21 different countries whose citizens lost their lives in the disaster. Lockerbie an open letter from dr jim swire intel today. 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. More than three decades ago an aircraft loaded with a terrorist bomb at heathrow airport exploded and fell upon the innocent town of lockerbie. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the lockerbie disaster.
In this keynote discussion ashton is joined by jim swire. As we enter a new decade, inevitably we carry with us uncompleted business from the past. Jim sheridan plans film about lockerbie bombing film the. Lockerbie victims father, jim swire, advises donald trump to educate himself on disaster this is the headline over an article published today on the uk website of the huffington post. His willingness to challenge the official narrative was seized upon by relatives of the lockerbie victims, led by english doctor jim swire, who viewed almegrahi as a scapegoat for more powerful plotters. As you know in the book i went into some detail on this matter and i have tried to indicate the nature of the. The telegraph reports that a group of uk families are fighting to overturn the late al megrahis conviction and to trigger a fresh investigation into britains worst terrorist 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. This is a collection of books on the topic of the crash of pan am 103, the lockerbie bombing trial, the victims and much more. Jim swire, the man who never gave up worcester news. Author claims it wasnt libya who bombed the 747 jumbo jet and the prime suspect is alive and living in washington. Lockerbie is known internationally as the place where, on 21 december 1988, the wreckage of pan am flight 103 crashed after a terrorist bomb on board detonated.
Jim swire, who has steadfastly campaigned for the truth around his 23year. It comes as another confidential memo revealed officials thought families of lockerbie. Adequately explained by stupidity lockerbie, luggage and. Its only after the bodies are returned that the families. Jim swire, the spokesman for the british relatives of pan am 103. Snps failure to order lockerbie bombing inquiry will harm its indyref chances this is the headline over a report published this morning on the website of the herald. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Swire has led a highprofile campaign for justice on behalf of uk relatives.
He was the solicitor researcher and investigator and i think knows most about this disaster with people like jim swire, the father of flora who sadly died in the disaster. 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. Jul 23, 2014 its only after the bodies are returned that the families healing can begin dr jim swire, who lost his 23yearold daughter flora in the lockerbie bombing of 1988, recalls the harrowing task. Dec 05, 2018 his willingness to challenge the official narrative was seized upon by relatives of the lockerbie victims, led by english doctor jim swire, who viewed almegrahi as a scapegoat for more powerful plotters. Lockerbie priest who tirelessly helped bereaved families.
Margaret thatcher turned her back on lockerbie victims to. Parkess critics, however, have likened his observations to a conspiracy theorists hunt for a smoking gun. May, 2015 jim swire is to speak at a national conference major incidents and beyond at the queen elizabeth hospital birmingham on wednesday 20th may. Abdelbaset almegrahi was convicted of the deadly bombing, but many believe his conviction was a miscarriage of justice. This site is the official homepage of the victims of pan am flight 103, inc. All 259 people on board were killed, as were 11 individuals on the ground. Libyan national abdelbaset almegrahi was convicted of the crime. Almegrahi was released on compassionate grounds by the scottish. Jim sheridan plans film about lockerbie bombing the director will examine the aftermath of the bombing and the role of jim swire, whose daughter was killed and who met abdelbaset almegrahi, the. Lockerbie, luggage and lies kindle edition by kerr, morag g download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
How the lockerbie disaster haunts scotland, 30 years on. Swire lobbied toward a solution for the difficulties in bringing suspects in the original bombing to trial, and later advocated for the retrial. Aug 08, 2011 the verdict in the trial that convicted ali almegrahi of the lockerbie bombing is a tragedy for scotland and scottish justice, says jim swire whose daughter flora was among those killed in the tragedy. Lockerbie victims father, jim swire, advises donald trump. Dr jim swire lost his daughter, flora, in the pan am bombing.
James robertson on the lockerbie trial and his new novel. In an article bylined mike wade in your scottish edition for friday, october 4th, the last sentence reads a spokesman for the crown office said the remarks attributed by dr swire to the lord advocate at the. Jim swire and his wife jane comfort each other at their. 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 al. He will open his address with a short extract from our book lockerbie. May 20, 2014 the father of a victim of britains worst terrorist atrocity has expressed hope that a new film about the tragedy will aid his 25year quest for justice. When the washington post rewrites history an open letter from dr jim swire april 26 2017 the attempt by a group of uk relatives to initiate a further appeal against the zeist verdict was rejected when the sccrc requested guidance over our application from the edinburgh high court. Jim swire, the man who never gave up county gp dr jim swires commitment to exposing lax airport security once led him to smuggle a. He was the solicitor researcher and investigator and i think knows most about this disaster with people like jim swire, the father of flora who sadly. Lockerbie bomber abdelbaset almegrahi may have been. Lockerbie bomber may have been victim of miscarriage of. Since losing his beloved daughter flora in that atrocity almost 25 years ago, dr jim swire has thought about little else. Margaret thatcher tried to limit lockerbie bombing compo.
Stasi link to 1988 lockerbie air disaster examined by police. 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. Lockerbie victims father, jim swire, advises donald trump to. In the united kingdom, the event is often referred to as the lockerbie disaster or the lockerbie bombing. Speaking at a memorial service in westminster abbey on the 25th anniversary of the atrocity, dr jim swire described the bombing that.