I travelled to Dunfermline Abbey on Thursday to attend a Memorial Service for Lawrence Daly the great Scottish Miners leader who became the General Secretary of the NUM in 1968 and lead the Miner’s through the 1972 and ’74 strikes. He was one of Scotland’s finest orators. He was to the Scottish Miners what Nye Bevin was to the Welsh valleys. A lover of music, poetry and song, it was so fitting to have music at the heart of the Memorial Service. Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP gave the Eulogy; Cathie Peattie MSP sung “Ae Fon Kiss”, the congregation and choir, “A man’s a man for a’ that”. The Miner’s Lullaby “Coorie Doon” was sung by Croy Miners choir. There wasn’t a dry eye in the Abbey. See www.youtube.co.uk and search for “Coorie Doon” to hear the late Luke Kelly (Dubliners) sing “Coorie Doon”. It brought memories of mining mums and dads putting children to bed and singing a lullaby.
Judiciary
I have argued for long and weary that politicians should never be part of any judicial process where a person’s liberty is decided upon. Such decisions must be made by judges and/or juries. Political interference must end both in and away from our Courts. Last week’s hoo-ha from the Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill when he released the Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi from Greenock Prison not helped by the scenes of the hero’s welcome in Tripoli was an affront to the 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing.