Lockerbie campaigner Dr Jim Swire yesterday urged the bereaved families of the bombing to ‘make up their own minds’ about the truth behind the atrocity.
His comments came after American relatives of some of the victims hit out over a television drama about the terrorist attack with relatives of the US victims claiming it could harm the 36-year fight for justice.
They fear the series, starring Colin Firth as Dr Jim Swire, could ‘instil doubt’ in jurors ahead of alleged Libyan spy and bomb-maker Abu Agila Masud’s trial due to take place in the Netherlands next year.
However, Dr Swire yesterday robustly defended the drama for keeping the ongoing investigation into the Lockerbie bombing in the public eye.
He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I would like people to make up their own minds by watching the series, which is based entirely on the book.
‘I hope it will cause people to think about where the truth is more likely to lie, and whether the conclusions we came to are more valid than the official version.
‘Over the past 36 years, our attitude has always been to keep an open mind about aspects of this disaster.
‘We will always listen to what people have to say, but ask ourselves why this person is telling us what they are telling us – what is their motive?’
Dr Swire has long argued that the Libyan spy Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted over the terror attack, was innocent, a theory set out in the five-part television drama inspired by his book, Lockerbie: A Father’s Search for Justice, co-written with Peter Biddulph.
Al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of 270 accounts of murder at a special Scottish court convened in the Netherlands.
However, Scottish ministers released him back to his home in Libya eight years later, on compassionate grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He survived for another three years.
In the TV drama, Oscar winner Colin Firth takes the lead role of Dr Swire, 88, whose 23-year-old daughter Flora was among 270 killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie on December 21, 1988.
Victoria Cummock, 71, whose husband John died aboard the flight, has accused programme makers of trying to ‘influence uninformed audiences’ and claims the drama could ‘undermine the course of criminal justice’ by swaying potential jurors in the trial of Abu Agila Masud, who is accused of assembling the bomb.’
Dr Swire rejected her claims that the jury could be influenced by the drama, stating: ‘I would have thought it was the responsibility of the judge to find out whether the jurors are objective or whether their views have been swayed.’
Ms Cummock, along with other US families, believes the series will give credence to Dr Swire’s theory that the real bombmaker was a double agent and a valuable CIA asset, leading the US and UK Governments to pin the blame on Gaddafi. He also believes Iran was behind the Lockerbie bombing as revenge for the Iran Air Flight 655 shot down in July 1988 by the US with the loss of all 290 people on board.
Ms Cummock told the Scottish Sun: ‘I feel that the casting of Colin Firth, depicted as the lone, courageous champion of truth and justice, will elevate Swire’s story, filled with unproven conspiracy theories and politically biased interpretations,’
Dr Swire said yesterday: ‘I would ask if she has seen the series. If she hasn’t, wouldn’t it be better to wait until she has before commenting?’
Sue Lowenstein, 80, who lost her son Alexander, one of 35 students from Syracuse University aboard the flight, said: ‘Most of us haven’t been in agreement with Jim and his beliefs.’
A spokesman for the US-based Victims of Pan Am 103 said: ‘We have raised our concerns with the producers of the project. We feel they are amplifying and highlighting a false narrative about the bombing.
A narrative that the great majority of us who lost loved ones do not align with and have fought very hard against.
‘They risk dishonouring the memories of those lost, the lifetime of work of the families, and worse of all, they may put doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act.’
A Sky spokesman said: ‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is based on Dr Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice.
‘We understand there are opposing opinions and do not attempt to tell the definitive version of the Lockerbie disaster or present a conclusion.
‘We engaged with victims’ families and support groups throughout production and in the lead-up to the series launch.’
*Lockerbie: A Search for Truth will be released on Sky on January 2.