LIVING ‘victims’ of the 1988 Lockerbie disaster have less than a week to register their interest for access to the trial next year of an alleged bomb maker.
The FBI and US Dept of Justice have set a deadline of Wednesday October 9 for registrations for the proceedings involving Libyan Abu Agila Masud, above, who denies making the bomb that blew up Pan Am Flight 103.
He is due to stand trial in Washington in May 2025.
Recent US legislation requires the criminal court to provide remote access to the proceedings, for all those who qualify under the definition of ‘victim’.
And they are trying to identify the total number of victims and their geographic locations, in order to evaluate the type of remote access to grant: either to victims’ personal devices or to designated trial-viewing sites around the world.
The definition of a victim has been split into two groups: the first includes someone who was “present at or near the scene in Lockerbie when the bombing occurred or immediately thereafter” and who suffered “direct or proximate harm (e.g. physical or emotional injury) as a result”.
The second group includes “the spouse, legal guardian, parent, child, brother, sister, next of kin or other relative of someone who was killed on Pan Am 103 or killed or harmed on the ground in Scotland or someone who possesses a relationship of a similar significance to someone who was killed or harmed in the attack”.
In a statement, the FBI said: “We understand that this notice may be unexpected and raise questions for many who are connected to this tragedy. Please accept our apologies for any apprehensions caused by this sudden outreach, and rest assured that we have a team of dedicated individuals prepared to address any concerns you may have about this process.”
Victoria Cummock lost her husband John in the disaster and is now a trustee of Tundergarth Kirks Trust and also the CEO of the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation.
She is urging others to sign up for access and said: “Many thousands of people qualify as living crime victims, like I do, and are entitled by US law to a range of support services during the trial, including mental health counselling, court trial access, and travel expense reimbursement.
“I appeal to everyone who qualifies to register to receive these benefits, regardless of whether they intend to access the court proceedings. This will probably be our last chance to be counted in demanding accountability and justice.”
Meanwhile, Police Scotland has been working to contact groups of first responders who may wish to register their interest too.
* To register interest go to www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-concerning-pan-american-flight-103
(Photo of Masud courtesy of Alexandria Sheriff’s Office)
