'Town will never forget'

Representatives of the people of Lockerbie today said they would never forget the loss of the 270 people killed in the bombing.

At a press conference in the Scottish border town following the verdict at Camp Zeist, the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Philip Jones, said no justice could ever make up for their deaths.

Speaking at Lockerbie Town Hall, Mr Jones said the trial had "focused on how the murder of 270 men women and children was committed and by whom".

But he added: "The outcome of the trial has provided certain answers to those questions, but no measure of justice administered by the court could ever equal such an appalling loss of life and no measure can be placed on the opportunity that was denied to innocent people to live their lives.

"Whilst for some this verdict will bring matters to an end, to others the search for answers will go on. Our thoughts go out once again to the families affected by this devastating tragedy."

Local councillor Marjory McQueen said: "I think the town of Lockerbie has drawn a line under what happened here."

She added: "There has not been the depth of anticipation here at the verdict of the trial.

"Our thoughts are with the relatives today. That is what we are doing in Lockerbie, it is really looking after the relatives.

"We are just the little market town that you would have found 12 years ago."

Mrs McQueen said that she wanted to see some feeling of finality for the relatives involved.

"Now we as a town hope there will be peace," she said.

Councillor Lavinia Vaughan echoed Mrs McQueen's thoughts and said: "I think the people of Lockerbie will always be here to help and support the families.

"The scars have grown over and basically people here are just getting on with their everyday lives."

But Mrs Vaughan, whose ward of Tundergarth includes the area where the plane's nose cone fell, said today would not be the end of the story.

"I am quite sure that yes, it will go on and on and there will be questions to answer," she said.

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