Opinion: Released on Compassionate Grounds

Recently in the UK there has been the release of two high profile prisoners on compassionate grounds within weeks of each other. While I won't comment on the rights or wrongs of releasing terminally ill prisoners who have only a few months left to live. I would like to comment on the timing of the releases.

1st July 09: Ronnie Biggs (great train robber) is denied parole on compassionate grounds by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. The reason he gave was that Mr Biggs was "wholly unrepentant".  Since 2005, Ronnie Biggs has been requesting parole on compassionate grounds.

6th August 09: Jack Straw reversed his decision and sets Mr Biggs free.

20th August 09: Abdel Baset al-Megrahi (Lockerbie bomber) -  Scotland releases him on compassionate grounds and he returns to Libya (after many unsuccessful prior appeals).

Now this is just speculation, but it does appear that Jack Straws reversal on Ronnie Biggs was due to the impending release of Megrahi. It would have caused more of a controversy if Biggs was denied release while Megrahi (convicted of mass murder) was released. I suspect the government found out about the Lockerbie bombers release towards the end of July and then hurriedly forced Jack Straw to reverse his decision.

The other possibility is that Jack Straw was delaying Biggs release so that it would be closer to the release of Megrahi’s (hence the Government new about the release for a while). This would allow the public to become accustomed to the meme of “release on compassionate grounds” and hence be more prepared for the release of Megrahi.

But being the cynical person that I am . . .  I could be wrong . . .


Links:
BBC News Ronnie Biggs
BBC on Lockerbie Bomber Release