The Times today published a letter from Dr Jim Swire, “father of Flora, murdered at Lockerbie”. Can a father ever have written a more poignant phrase?

The bombing, in 1988, remains fresh in the minds of those who were then alive.

British foreign policy might be summed up as ” we have no allies or enemies, only interests”.

Dr Swire has been unswerving in his search for the truth and for justice for Flora, though the twists and turns of the case.

He is a man who fears no-one. Read today’s letter.

He is correct. Who would tell you the truth? The judiciary? The prosecution service? The State?

All is subsumed to the requirements of the State and all the state’s actors play their part.

I wish him well, I hope I can stay the course as he has done.