Almost a year ago, Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, the Libyan convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, was released on compassionate grounds.
Relatives of the victims were horrified at the news and some cynics suggested that this was a move prompted by government pressure in order to promote an Anglo-Libyan trade deal. Indeed there was speculation that Gordon Brown himself, may have been instrumental in the move.
Cancer expert Professor Karol Sikora predicted at the time that Al Megrahi had only two or three months to live.
Prof. Sikora has now revised that estimate to between 10 and 20 years!
Amid much outrage, Mr Megrahi's family are keen to point out that he is, even so, a very sick man.
His brother-in law said yesterday,'We played tennis only last week and he had to stop half way through the third set, he was just too tired to continue.'he said, 'and he hasn't been to the gym at all this week.'
His cousin also confirmed that during a recent 'lads night out' in Tripoli, Mr Megrahi had to return to his hotel room at only 2 o'clock in the morning. 'Light-weight' he joked, 'he even had to get a waitress to help him back to his room!'
His wife also confirmed that they may be forced to cancel a planned holiday to the Caribbean as too much travelling can 'make him very tired.'
Prof. Sikora admits all this is very embarrassing.
Other worried patients of Prof. Sikora were trying to make contact over the weekend.
A man, who asked not to be named, said. 'The professor told me I'd got a week to live. I've given everything to the cat's home and now he's not answering his phone. It' all very worrying'
