Lockerbie families furious over new Colin Firth TV drama and fear it will ruin 36-year fight for justice
LOCKERBIE victims’ families are split over a controversial new drama about the atrocity — amid fears it could undermine their 36-year fight for justice.
Oscar-winning star Colin Firth takes the lead role of campaigner Dr Jim Swire, 88, who lost his daughter Flora in the 1988 tragedy.
The bereaved dad has long argued that late Libyan spy Abdelbaset al-Megrahi — the only person ever convicted over Britain’s deadliest terror attack — was innocent.
His book, A Father’s Search For Justice, is the inspiration for the forthcoming Sky Atlantic drama.
Now other victims’ relatives are outraged at the portrayal ahead of a trial in the US next year.
Victoria Cummock, 71, whose husband John died aboard Pan Am Flight 103, accused programme makers of trying to “influence uniformed audiences” and “instil doubt in potential jurors”.
The American dad of three was among 259 passengers plus 11 in the Dumfriesshire town who perished when the London-New York flight exploded in mid-air on December 21, 1988.
And Victoria, who regularly travels to the UK to visit John’s grave in Lockerbie’s Tundergarth cemetery, described the five-part series as an attempt to “undermine the course of criminal justice”.
The widow added: “I feel that the casting of Colin Firth, depicted as the lone, courageous champion of truth and justice, will elevate Swire’s story, filled with unproven conspiracy theories and politically biased interpretations.”
Al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of 270 counts of murder at a 72-day trial at a special Scots court convened in The Netherlands.
Controversially, Scottish ministers released him back to his homeland eight years later on compassionate grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He then survived for another three years. Alleged spy Abu Agila Masud is set to stand trial in Washington DC in May accused of assembling the Lockerbie bomb.
The King’s Speech A-lister Firth, 64, was spotted walking past reconstructed plane wreckage while filming Lockerbie: A Search for Truth earlier this year in Bathgate, West Lothian.
Victoria revealed the scenes had upset relatives — with the real-life plane’s remains set to be sent to the US to be used in evidence against the alleged bomb maker.
Slamming the telly drama, she added: “It discredits the exemplary efforts and integrity of thousands of first responders and law enforcement personnel who combed for evidence for months, in the bitter, wet cold, across 2,200sq km. It was the largest crime scene in UK history.”
Dr Swire has maintained that the true bombmaker was a Jordanian “double agent, or possibly even a triple agent”.
He has insisted this man was a valuable CIA asset — prompting the US and UK Governments to instead pin the blame on tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and Libyans.
But bereaved loved ones are concerned millions of viewers will be swayed by his theories.
Bert Ammerman, 77, whose brother Tom, 36, died in the attack, questioned the TV show’s agenda — despite retaining “respect” for Dr Swire’s decades of campaigning.
He said: “Jim Swire was the key person that wanted to keep the Lockerbie story going until we found out the truth.
“And for this entire period he has been a leader. For that he will always have my respect and gratitude. I disagree that Megrahi was wrongly convicted and that it was not Libya to blame. Jim really went off the beaten path.”
Vowing to keep fighting for convictions, Bert, of New Jersey, US, insisted: “It’s not just Megrahi and Gaddafi that were involved — and that alone keeps us going 36 years later. My power to keep going is my brother being blown out of the air at 31,000 feet.”
Among the victims when the tragic flight exploded 38 minutes after take-off were 35 students from Syracuse University in New York.
Sue Lowenstein, 80, lost her son Alexander, 20 — who had been among the group studying abroad.
She accused the forthcoming small-screen portrayal of deliberately courting controversy. The sculptor, of Montague, New York, said: “Controversy always creates an interesting story for TV and most of us haven’t been in agreement with Jim Swire and his beliefs.”
Campaign groups told of their horror that the series was allowed to get off the ground after pleading with producers to pull the plug.
A spokesman for the US-based Victims of Pan Am 103 said: “We have raised our concerns with the producers of the project.
“We feel they are amplifying and highlighting a false narrative about the bombing.
“A narrative that the great majority of us who lost loved ones do not align with and have fought very hard against.
“They risk dishonouring the memories of those that were lost, the lifetime of work of the families, and worst of all they may put doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act.”
But Swire’s supporters insist the series, set to debut on January 2, will be a force for good.
His friend, Reverend John Mosey, 84, lost daughter Helga in the tragedy — and continues to hope the “hidden” truth will emerge.
Rev Mosey said: “Somebody in the US government or security departments has something they want to hide from the public and will do anything to stop it from coming out.
“It’s frustrating getting nearer the end of our days so people are waiting for us to shuffle off our mortal coil and keep quiet until we do so.
“Those who kept secrets ought to be brought to justice.”
Dr Swire declined to comment. Last night a Sky spokesman said: “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is based on Dr Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice.
“We understand there are opposing opinions and do not attempt to tell the definitive version of the Lockerbie disaster or present a conclusion.
“We do not underestimate the responsibility of telling this story sensitively. We engaged with victims’ families and support groups through- out production and in the lead-up to the series launch.”