The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has expressed its frustration at the lack of cooperation from parties who provided information to it in the case of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in June 2007, which have prevented it publishing its "Statement of Reasons" in respect of the case.

The Commission has been unable to reach agreement with the "relevant parties" to obtain their consent to the publication of the Statement of Reasons, which narrated why Megrahi's case was considered a potential miscarriage of justice, and led it being referred back to the High Court for Megrahi's second appeal.

The Crown Office immediately issued a statement claiming it had "cooperated fully" with the SCCRC, and instead blamed the SCCRC for declining its offer of putting the SCCRC in touch with "individuals and foreign authorities who had provided the information referred to in the Statement of Reasons".

However, the Crown Office statement did not confirm whether it had in fact withheld its own consent in respect of the information provided by it.

"Over the last nine months I have been in ongoing correspondence and, in some instances, discussion with a number of the main parties who were responsible, either directly or indirectly, for providing information to the Commission. I asked them if they were prepared to provide their consent, in writing, to the disclosure of the information contained within our Statement of Reasons. This included Crown Office, the Foreign Office, the relevant police authorities, as well as Mr Al Megrahi and his legal representatives," said Gerard Sinclair, SCCRC Chief Executive.

"It has become obvious that there is no likelihood of obtaining the unqualified consent required in terms of the 2009 Order, and consequently the Board decided at its last meeting to discontinue the discussions at this time."

Despite The Firm's repeated requests, the Crown Office has stated it will not confirm whether it gave or withheld its consent in respect of the information provided by it to the SCCRC.