FOURTEEN years after the Lockerbie bombing took 270 lives, the families of the victims remain entrenched in an exhausting crusade for something money cannot buy - the truth surrounding the tragedy.
During its long years in opposition, the Labour Party repeatedly promised an independent inquiry into the events surrounding the atrocity.
But last month, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, ruled that there would be no final investigation into th
e disaster, incensing campaigners who have demanded to know what the British and United States governments knew before the bombing.
Last night’s decision by Libya to accept civil responsibility, a move which could lead to a multi-million-pound compensation package for each family affected, was branded as another step away from the truth by the relatives, the very people that the settlement was created to help.
Flora Swire, a medical student, died as she flew out the day before her 24th birthday to see her boyfriend in New York. She was one of 259 passengers and crew on board the Pan Am Flight 103 from Heathrow on 21 December, 1988.
Last night, her father Dr Jim Swire, 65, said that the reports that Libya had accepted civil responsibility for the atrocity did little to alleviate the suffering the victims’ families continued to endure.
He added: "For a start you cannot give money to replace people’s lives. No amount of money in the world is going to compensate us for that, or what we really want, which is basically the truth.
"This also doesn’t remove the urgent need for an independent inquiry into the bombing, despite Jack Straw’s appalling decision not to grant one.
"It doesn’t explain why Britain didn’t take reasonable steps to avert this atrocity or why security at Heathrow airport at the time of the bombing was so appallingly lax.
"We are still no nearer the answers that we need, everything seems murkier than ever, but our search for the truth is a battle we will not concede."
The retired GP from Staffordshire added that he believed the Libyans were exploiting the situation to enable the lifting of economic sanctions.
He said: "I fully believe it suits the Libyans to accept accountability or ‘civil responsibility’ for the bombing. It enables them to ask for the assistance of the United Nations to remove economic sanctions. This is about restoring trade and nothing to do with accepting the blame. For the Libyans it is worth their while."
According to the Rev John Mosey, 62, who lost his 19-year-old daughter Helga , money will help some families. But he added: "Civil compensation isn’t the best word for this deal from the Libyans. It’s effectively blood money.
"Nothing compensates for the death of your loved ones. The money will enrich many people’s lives, of that I’m sure. From our perspective we plan to put it to good use and build a children’s home and that will help us in many ways. Others will take to the money differently."
But he added: "We must remember money is the only one thing that has been settled here. Many of the families have serious doubts about the validity of the court’s verdict in the case. Let’s just say I didn’t find the evidence against Megrahi as convincing as the courts, but like many I accepted the wisdom of the judges and I have tried to move on.
"To myself the money has always been the least important thing. We have really only ever wanted to know why this was allowed to happen in the face of so much intelligence.
"The failings of the government, airport security and MI5 have been well documented. What we want is an independent inquiry that will get to the bottom of this and one with teeth so major players like Margaret Thatcher and intelligence heads can be brought before a committee and explain their prior knowledge."
An American campaigner, Susan Cohen, whose daughter, Theodora, died in the tragedy, added that her frustration had overspilled when she heard about the wording of the Libyan offer. She said: "Civil responsibility means they have just agreed to pay. That is not good enough. They are supposed to accept responsibility.
"We always knew Gaddafi was going to pay but we were supposed to have a statement of responsibility first. I suspected it would be weak and lousy. What does the statement of responsibility say? What is the deal, what does this consist of? That is the key. Until we know, this is all highly speculative."
Another grey issue remaining last night was the promised compensation settlement for the soldiers, police officers and local volunteers who helped clean up in the aftermath of the disaster.
Two days after the bombing, the then Scottish Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, said: "Anyone who develops emotional problems, psychological difficulties, will be helped, because we have learned such a lot from Piper Alpha and the Bradford fire disaster. We will all work closely together to give whatever help is required, both financial help and emotional support."
Yet 14 years on, the soldiers and police officers are still waiting for help. There have been recorded claims that many soldiers continue to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder from the incident.
According to observers of the events leading up to last night’s deal, the true winners will not be the families of the victims, but the legions of lawyers involved in the protracted negotiations.
It emerged recently that US lawyers acting for the families of the Lockerbie bombing victims are expected to earn more than £500 million in commission from any compensation settlement. The US firms involved defended the deal, which will mean them taking about 30 per cent of the pay-out to each family.
The deal comes eight years after the majority of the victims’ families signed "no win, no fee" deals with a number of top American legal firms based in New York.
Last night, Mr Mosey said that despite the anticipated financial settlement he fully expected the families to continue their battle for the truth. He said: "We have a families group meeting soon and the calls for an independent inquiry will be top of our agenda.
"The ideal for us is the Home Office are forced into appointing a high-profile figure, not a politician, to carry out this investigation. That’s what we need here, not millions of dollars."
