Stuart Cossar, of Dumfries, has been honoured for his constant presence for the families of the victims of the 1988 terror attack as they search for answers.
And last week, Stuart – along with members of his family – was made an MBE by Princess Anne during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The former detective inspector said: “It means so much to me, but not only to me, to my family as well.
“I feel I’m not only representing myself and my family, but also the people of Lockerbie, and many colleagues I’ve worked with over the years in the investigation.”
Stuart, who retired in 2018 from his role as an inspector and deputy senior investigating officer in the Lockerbie case, immediately returned as a civilian member of support staff so he could continue to help the victims’ families.
The 62-year-old has supported over 100 families – and professional and educational groups – receiving numerous letters of appreciation for this work.
Stuart took the lead in working collaboratively with many partners to progress the objectives of the Lockerbie enquiry which includes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice, The ICC at the Hague and others.
A decade ago, he attended Libya during dangerous civil unrest at great personal risk, and made crucial connections with the Libyan Attorney Generals office.
Evidence secured by him and shared with American law enforcement agencies allowed for the US extradition of a male in December 2022 to face justice for his role in the attack.
Stuart’s drive and commitment to the Crown Office was a key factor in contributing to the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi being upheld after the initial appeal process and at the second appeal process some 18 years later.
Stuart supports victims’ families and regularly corresponds with them to provide updated information relevant to their loved ones recovery.
He added: “It’s such a rewarding job, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people – not just in the UK but throughout the world.
“And the families – they’re fantastic people. I really have a very strong bond with the families now, which I’ve developed over many years.”
Stuart expressed gratitude for Princess Anne’s “strong bond” with Lockerbie, saying: “Princess Anne was actually in Lockerbie this year, and she spoke about the people of Lockerbie and how resilient they all are.
“She has a very strong bond with Scotland and she has a very strong bond with Lockerbie itself.”
