Ep005:

Lockerbie Bombing First Responder (Part Two)

In this powerful conclusion to his two-part interview, Tony Bonnar shares his experience as a first responder at the Lockerbie bombing. From the haunting discovery of the Pan Am cockpit in a quiet field to the emotional weight of hearing grieving families on the radio, Tony offers a rare and deeply human perspective on one of Britain’s darkest days. He reflects on how trauma shaped his memory — what the mind chooses to remember, and what it protects you from — all while balancing clinical clarity with deep compassion.

But Tony’s story doesn’t end in tragedy. At 36, he made a bold career shift, becoming a criminal lawyer and eventually a homicide prosecutor working on high-profile cases like the World’s End Murders. With honesty and grit, he describes the realities of Glasgow’s violent crime scene and the personal commitment required to find meaning in such demanding work. It’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet power of doing work that truly matters.