Published: Thursday, 24th September, 2009 4:25pm

COUNCIL VOTES AGAINST MEGRAHI MOTION

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BARRHEAD's local authority has voted against questioning the Scottish Government on why they have to supervise the Lockerbie bomber.

At a full meeting of East Renfrewshire Council last week a motion proposed by Independent councillor Ralph Robertson asked that the Scottish Government be challenged on the expenses the authority will incur supervising Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Convicted bomber Megrahi was released from Greenock Prison last month on the basis of compassionate grounds by Justice Minister Kenny McCaskill. Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, was returned to his home of Libya. But because his family's address was in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire Council have the task of supervising him and allocating a social worker to ensure he does not break any of his conditions.

Councillor Robertson's motion stated: "It is wrong for East Renfrewshire Councilto have the expense of supervising newly released Lockerbir bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. Scottish Justice Minister Kenny McCaskill has made the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. East Renfrewshire Council should write to the Scottish Government to have all expenses incurred in carrying out this supervision order re-imbursed in full."

The motion was backed by opposition leader Councillor Jim Swift. He said: "Why do we have the duty of looking after the biggest mass murder in our history - why should local taxpayers bear the cost of this."

Barrhead councillor Douglas Yates hit back at the motion stating it was the council's legal responsibility and duty to oversee the supervision.

He said: "The cost of monitoring is a telephone call to Libya - less that 10 pence to pay- we should not write to the Scottish Government - the legal system is set up as such and East Renfrewshire Council has a responsibility and a duty to look after all offenders as tasked."

Council leader Councillor Jim Fletcher echoed the argument adding: "It is the duty of this council to monitor Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi while on licence and the cost to the council is minimal.

"The Scottish Government gives us a block grant to support criminal justice work of this sort."

After a vote the motion was defeated by 12 votes to eight to support the amendment proposed by Councillor Yates.

Councillor Robertson, who recently resigned from the administration over clashes with the council, said: "This was not about the money - it's matter of principle - I believe East Renfrewshire Council should have no cost and no involvement and and I want to know why the onus was placed on use for taking care of Megrahi.

"The residents of East Renfrewshire and Scotland do not wish to be involved."

Councillors who voted for the motion: Gilbert, Grant, McCaskill, Miller, Robertson,

Rosin, Swift, Wallace.

Councillors who voted for the amendment: Mackie, Cunningham, Buchanan, Carmichael, Devlin, Fletcher, Green, Lafferty, McAlpine, Montague, Phillips, Yates.