27/02/2012 Reporting Scotland

Will come to Reporting Scotland. Too late: -- tonight: two-and-a-

half years after he was sent home fresh claims that the Lockerbie

bomber was asked to drop his claims for an appeal in order to guarantee

his release. He is adamant that he would not have dropped the appeal

had it not been indicated that doing so would enhance his chances

of a compassionate release. Untrue. Here say, based on the fact a book

is about to be released. The men accused of plotting to kill Neil

Lennon go on trial. She is well connected - one of 300 children

getting a insulin plant to help manage the of diabetes. And signs

of improvement but still no wins in The Scottish Government has

categorically denied that it advised that the Lockerbie bomber

to drop his appeal against conviction days before release from

prison on compassionate grounds. Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the only

man convicted of the atrocity, makes the claim and a biography

just published. He also says that new evidence from a BBC Scotland

investigation should help prove his innocence. The Lockerbie bomber are

says that he is dying but two-and- a-half years after his release from

prison on compassionate grounds he is convinced that new evidence will

impact -- prove his innocence. will be very good and it will help

clear my name. He dropped his appeal at days after being visited

by the Justice Secretary. Based later he returned it to will appear.

His biographer says that the two things are linked. He is adamant

that he would not have dropped the appeal had it not been indicated to

him that doing so would enhance his chances of gaining compassionate

release. The Scottish Government have issued a categoric denial that

any deal was done. Untrue. It starred hand here say based on the

fact that the book is about to be launched and promoted. -- powered

hand here say. My decision was not predicated, it was a matter for him

and his legal team. New evidence has emerged any BBC investigation

casting doubt on his involvement in the bombing. He was identified by a

shopkeeper in Malta or as having bought clothes later found in the

suitcase containing the bomb. But his identification could be suspect.

When he joined at the line-up just before his trial the shopkeeper had

recently seen a photograph of the Libyan in a magazine. He claims it

never affected his judgment. I have never seen this man until he came

to the court. I think he is a very simple man. But I do forgive him.

Scotland's washed terraced atrocity continues to provoke uncertainty

but now opposition parties are demanding comment from the Justice

Secretary as regards his claims that he was given a deal to drop

The trial has begun of the men who plotted to kill Neil Lennon. --

accused of plotting to kill. Along with two high-profile supporters of

the club, Paul McBride QC and Trish Godman. The package sent was

believed to be an improvised explosive device capable of causing

extreme injury or death. This was the incident in the mind of the

Post man who collected the Mail on 4th March, 1920 11. The 5th round

Scottish Cup replay, where Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon were

involved in what the jury heard was a scuffle. The spokesman said he

was empty net post box when he spotted a parcel addressed to Neil

Lennon at Celtic Park. He took it to the sorting office where his

manager called the police and evacuated the building. Royal Mail

manager, Andrew Easton, told the court that the package felt

suspicious, like a bag of nails. The jury were shown photographs of

what was contained within the parcel. A large quantity,

containing what around 100 meals. And a black wire attached to the

opening flapper. -- around 100 nails. There was a crude device and

a black party like substance with two meals stuck on to it. This

counter-terrorism policeman told The jury then heard about a second

parcel from Kirkintilloch post man, Martin Mulgrew. He said it was

addressed to Neil Lennon at the Celtic training-ground and

The jury were shown a photograph of the second parcel. It had a more

professional look and a printed label. Both men deny all the

charges and the trial continues. You are watching Reporting Scotland.

Still to come: parents in Scotland are paying more for childcare than

almost anywhere else in the United Kingdom. And a science-fiction

movie filmed in Glasgow which has been discovered more than 30 years

after it was made, but never released. Another disappointing

defeat in the Six Nations - what a Scotland have to do to avoid the

wooden spoon? And Alan MacGregor leaves Rangers's financial worries

to one side and vows to be fully focused in goal against Slovenia.

The wife of the man accused of killing a missing Edinburgh office

worker, Suzanne Pilley, appeared in court today, but refused to testify

against him. Andrea Gilroy was called as a witness for the

prosecution but took up her right to decline evidence. David Gilroy

it denies the murder as well as assaulting his wife at their home

in Edinburgh on various occasions. Andrea Gilroy was called to the

trial as a prosecution witness. When she was led into the witness

box she smiled briefly at her husband sitting in the dock. The

judge explained, as the wife of the accused, you have the right not to

give evidence against a partner. He asked, do you wish to give

evidence? She replied, nor, I do not. Later today some of Abdelbaset

Ali al-Megrahi and David Gilroy's work colleagues give evidence. One

colleague said: - some of Suzanne Pilley and David Gilroy's

colleagues. Another colleague, -- another colleague told the court

that he had seen David Gilroy at 9am in the office where they worked

and said he looked shocked and had glazed eyes and dilated pupils. He

was asked to be noticed anything else and said that he had a mark on

his neck. Mr Gilroy said he had been cutting bushes and his garden

that weekend. David Gilroy's mother also gave evidence saying that her

son arrived that morning to collect keys to his house. She said he

appeared to be normal. He denies seven charges including the murder

of Suzanne Pilley. The trial Rangers have been fined �50,000 by

the Stock Exchange for failing to disclose that Craig Whyte had been

disqualified as a director. The club were just as having displayed

a reckless and negligent attitude to the rules. They have since gone

into administration. Police have been questioning bus passengers

about the death of an 80-year-old found one way to go at her home

near Perth. Detectives want to speak to some body -- a man seen

boarding the need as a stop to her All children who need an insulin

pumps are to get one in Scotland. Scotland has the world's but high

street of trial by BT's and it is hoped that new treatment will

prevent the chances of children developing long-term complications.

There are nearly 28,000 people with type 1 diabetes. 2,800 of them are

children. Type 1 diabetes develops when your pancreas cannot make

enough insulin to get energy from sugar. So people with this

condition have to inject themselves with insulin several times a day

and must plan ahead what the eat and how much energy they're going

to use and inject the right amount of insulin to match. A insulin pump

makes much life much easier. It continually releases small amounts

of insulin and you can just a pump if you need more a less than

expected. Some are even waterproof so that you can wear them swimming.

I met the youngest child in Scotland to ever have one fitted.

With her new shoes and pretty outfit, five-year-old daisy is

happy to strike a pose for the cameras. This young model also

supports the latest fashion in diabetes treatment, and insulin

pump. She was on five injections a day, doing that is really

heartbreaking, now that we have the pump it is easier to control.

favourite playtime occupation is now catching the boys. Jackson is

the easiest to Pat -- catch. He is not very fast. Every child who will

benefit will now get an insulin pump but it is down to their health

boards to find the money. This is a step change that is needed. It will

take time for numbers to come through but we are convinced by a

commitment and certain that everyone who needs one in Scotland

will get one. It is thought that one in 10 diabetics could do with

one. But there is good news for adults as there will be funding for

2000 new pumps over the next three years which means that most adults

who need one will get one. A look at what else has happened across

the country: police are appealing for witnesses to a crash in Orkney

which killed two women and left a man seriously injured. The three-

car accident happened on the outskirts of Kirkwall last night.

Anyone who we have witnessed this should get in touch with the police.

Dounreay has begun blasting work to create Scotland's biggest nuclear

dump. The underground store will have room for 240,000 tonnes of

low-level radioactive waste from Objectors to waste disposal have

lunched a protest at above major's councils offices.

There have been refurbishment to both Kintyre hotels. It been truly

was the developer's dream, everything that money could buy, a

little money and TLC. The Scottish Maritime Museum,

current Borders of the Carrick clipper ship, say they have no

plans to forcefully remove a Sunderland man who has occupied it.

Peter Addison, who says the ship should be returned to where it was

built, is from Wearside. And the last Scottish volunteer in

the Spanish Civil War has died. He was a corporation bus driver in

Glasgow when he went to Spain in 1926 as part of the Scottish

Ambulance Service. Parents in Scotland with young families are

paying more for childcare than almost anywhere else in the UK.

That is if they can get it. As survey for the charity's day-care

Trust and children in Scotland found that parents here face prices

on a par with the south-east of England, and huge gaps in provision.

They say it is a childcare what -- childcare lottery.

This woman is about to return to work if she can get care for her

children. Attempts at finding an alternative have proved fruitless.

If they do find a nursery, she and her partner are not sure they can

afford it. Before we knew the nursery would

shut, we were in a challenging situation. For two full-time nurses

in our position it would have cost more than 40% of our household

income. We were trying to juggle our two jobs and go for part-time

nursery places. Only one in five local authorities

has enough childcare for working parents. Only one in 10 can provide

childcare for those who work outside office hours or live in

rural region mights. Childcare provision can be sky high.

Childcare for a week in the country's most expensive nursery

can be over �11,000 per year. Last April, the UK Government cut

support for childcare, leaving many families �500 per year worse off.

We cannot afford to a loud young children and their families to be

abandoned. -- we cannot afford to allow.

Glasgow City Council has cut the number of places it will fund in

private nurseries. That means some parents pay for services, while

others get -- other people get the services for free.

It is a pity we could not get the service people get. Others get it,

but there is a percentage that do not get it here.

The charities say there is a legal obligation on charities to provide

-- on Government to provide childcare for parents. The new can

see more on that story on BBC One Scotland tonight on Panorama - The

Cost Of Raising Britain at 8:30pm. No for the sport.

We start with the rugby. The Scotland winger, Rory Lamont, is

undergoing surgery which forced him off during yesterday's match at

Murrayfield. Once again, the Scots failed to win despite an improved

expecting a victory. The World Cup finalists against a team with no

wins so far in the Six Nations. But, it was the Scots who started

brighter, when that rarest of beasts turned up after seven

beasts turned up after seven minutes - a Scotland tried.

Do young players are stepping up to the plate. They came on for 30

the plate. They came on for 30 minutes and played really well, so

that is really positive. The negative was the way in which

they lost their stranglehold on the they lost their stranglehold on the

French. What went wrong?

It is not what went wrong, it is what did they not do to really

close the game off. For me it was turning the pressure into points.

They have to learn to be more They have to learn to be more

clinical, to create the chances and finish them off. There were enough

opportunities to score three or four tries.

Despite this try from Lee Jones Scotland are without a win so far

in the championship. Is the head coach, Andy Robinson, to blame?

The fans are happy with them, the players are happy with them, I

spoke with him after the game. You can see their performances were a

lot better than two or three years ago, before Andy came in.

Performance is one thing - winning is another. It was the red, white

and blue which dominated yesterday. Scotland have to win one of their

Scotland have to win one of their next two matches to avoid a

whitewash. Scotland's trip to Slovenia could

be a welcome break for Alan McGregor, according to Craig

Levein's assistant, Peter Houston. With his club's future in doubt, it

could be a well needed to escape. The Allan McGregor, decked out in

green today. Rangers fans, fear not. The goalkeeper was modelling of the

national kit, at ease with his team-mates but not keen to discuss

life in administration at Rangers. How much of a welcome break is this

for you giving what is going on at club level.

-- given what is going on at club level?

I think it is an honour. P pulsated shows your

professionalism, but you can put that behind you and take to the

field. As I say, every kind -- every time

I come away with Scotland, hopefully it is the same thing.

I Alan McGregor was part of a rampant Rangers side who fired four

past Inverness at the weekend. Just the tonic for players who could be

facing redundancy. For almost two weeks administrators have been

drawing up cost-cutting plans and those are fight -- close to being

finalised. The and has not mentioned anything

about last night. He was up eight because of their

fantastic performance yesterday. He will put it to the back of his mind.

-- Alan has not mentioned it. At this particular time it is probably

best I don't mention or comment on that.

Rangers have tough times ahead. For now, saving over Scotland is all

that matters to this man. Andy Murray will abide -- no doubt

be pleased that no bike the corps which is out of the Dubai Duty Free

World Championship. His brother, Marko Djokovic, was knocked out by

Andrey Golubev. The bad news for Andy Murray, the defending champion,

Novak Djokovic is already through. Film fans may be watching the

Oscars last night, but Scottish actors came close after a

successful run. Almost 35,000 visited the Glasgow Film Theatre on

first of all. The sci-fi thriller, Deathwatch, was made in 1980. Of

all it was never released in Britain it featured one of today's

big stars in his first big screen How many?

It has never been done, this kind of thing. He it was, at the time,

science fiction, our man in planted with a camera to film a dying woman

for a TV show. 30 years on, Deathwatch seems ahead

of its time with commit about reality TV. It was the first major

film to be made on location in the City, although, as its French

director recalls, he was not given much encouragement.

I had been warned by many people in London, do not shoot in Glasgow,

you are completely crazy, you will be robbed, murdered, attacked, your

life will be a nightmare. All the equipment will be stolen.

In fact, it was a successful shoot, employing a number of local actors

in their first screen roles. They had been doing Scottish

Television, but no British films. Among them, there was Robbie

Coltrane. I was impressed by his look. I thought, that is great, he

won't be the one running after the film's lead.

A film was not released in UK cinemas, although it developed a

cult following. Its director, who regularly returns to Glasgow, says

he is delighted and may one day make another film here.

I would love to, because the sky, the light in Scotland is stunning,

beautiful, it is so beautiful, even when it is raining. The rain is

And just before the weather, a reminder that our money expert,

Fergus Muirhead, will be with me on Wednesday lunchtime who will be

answering any at questions about powers of attorney. You can reach

him on the usual address. -- who It is incredibly mild for the time

of year, considering it is the end of February, technically still

winter. On the pressure trapped, that -- it shows south-westerly

winds coming across Scotland, bringing warm air across the

country. Across western Scotland, we keep misty conditions. Also fog

over higher ground and coastal areas, too. As far as temperatures

goal, generally around ten Celsius. A strong south-westerly wind across

the North and Northern Isles, lighter winds across the mainland.

Patches of rain and mist tomorrow morning, in the east, drier and

brightness breaking through from the start. In the west coast, for

the Western Isles, it will be bright, and drier, Glasgow's Ian

patchy rain and drizzle, misty conditions for the north-west and

Outer Hebrides, drier for Shetland, but staying cloudy. In the north-

east, 17 stealthiest in the sunshine, we will be pleased with

that. We keep those dry conditions across Scotland, sunshine more hazy

the further south you are. Little changes through the rest of the day.

Quite breezy, a strong south- westerly across the far north-west

and north. Wednesday, a repeat performance. Misty conditions in

the West, drier in the east, then on Thursday a bit of a change, rain

comes from the north, but it looks like staying there.

like staying there. Now for a summary of tonight's main

stories. The Scottish Government has categorically denied it advised

that the Lockerbie bomber to drop his appeal against conviction days

before he was released from prison on compassionate grounds.

Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi, the only man convicted of the 1988

atrocity, makes the claim in a biography published today.

Singer, Charlotte structure and her family have accepted damages from

Rupert Murdoch's news empire over phone hacking. It comes a day after

the Leveson Inquiry into news standards head about payment made

to corrupt officials at the Sun newspaper.

The trial has started of two men accused of plotting to murder Neil

Lennon and two high profile supporters of Celtic Football Club.

Trish Godman, former MSP, and QC Paul McBride.

The owners of the Costa Concordia, in which 25 people died last month,