Lockerbie youths rage at prospect of bomber's release

Hanging out in the park on a sunny afternoon, the gang of local youths could be in any town, anywhere. But these young people grew up in the shadow of atrocity - this is Lockerbie.

Most of them weren't even born when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded above the small Scottish community on the night of December 21, 1988, killing all 259 on board as well as 11 on the ground. But the tragedy is a part of their lives.

"It affects you, even though it was 21 years ago. Ever since it happened there's been this big dark cloud over Lockerbie," said Stefan McCormick, who was only one year old when disaster struck. He and his friends erupt into anger at the suggestion that the man responsible for the bombing, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, could be freed.

"He should be killed rather than taxpayers paying for him. The mess he made of this town," said Mr McCormick, a sentiment echoed by many of his peers.

Media reports and Libyan sources suggest Mr Megrahi, who is suffering from prostate cancer, could be released this week despite serving just eight-and-a-half years of a life sentence.

The Scottish government says only that it is considering applications for Mr Megrahi's compassionate early release or a prison transfer to his home country of Libya, and expects a decision by the end of August. One of the teenagers, who asked not to be named, offered a third alternative. "Bring him back here mate, we can beat him up," he joked.

The group complains of the usual drawbacks of a small town, including a lack of facilities - the cinema closed down and they wouldn't be seen dead in the local youth club - as well as difficulty in finding decent jobs.

But while this is nothing new, they believe the horrifying explosion that left body parts strewn for miles cast a unique shadow.

"There was a baby found in my back yard. My uncle found it.," said Mr McCormick.

And there's no getting away from it. Aside from the constant media attention, every year on the anniversary the school shows a video and gives a talk to commemorate what was Britain's worst ever terrorist attack.

"It's horrible, because you see the pictures," said Megan Townsend, 15.

Not everyone is so negative, however. Many of the adults who lived through the attack here have got on with their lives, including George Stobbs, 75, who as police inspector at the time was one of the first to see the wreckage.

"We just happened to be the people under the plane when it came down. You have to get on with it," he said - but refused point blank to discuss Mr Megrahi. And some young people admit to being a little bored by the subject.

"It's not as if we go around talking about it all the time," said Pamela Scott, 18, as she walked home from the station after a day out.

Her friend Catherine Kennedy, 20, added: "You get quite bored of it to be honest. It's made out to be a big thing because it's the only thing Lockerbie's known for. But it just happened, you get on with it."

Despite this, she is quick to condemn Mr Megrahi and to reject any suggestion of releasing him early.

"Obviously I think it's wrong, after all the deaths he caused," she said.