An MSP has come under-fire for not revealing that he is related to the Lockerbie bomber's lawyer.

Labour's James Kelly is Tony Kelly's brother and sits on the Holyrood committee investigating the Scottish Government's handling of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi's release from prison.

He was among those on the committee to question Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill as the inquiry got under way on Tuesday.

The Glasgow Rutherglen MSP joined the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee on November 10 and told the convener he had no declarations of interest.

Mr Kelly insisted the SNP criticism was "frankly ludicrous" and that his relationship was "well known".

But SNP committee member Stewart Maxwell said: "In the interests of transparency I am surprised that Mr Kelly did not see fit to declare his personal relationship to Mr Megrahi's lawyer.

"In a case which has caused such controversy, for any cloud to hang over today's hearing is deeply unfortunate.

"There is so far no suggestion that anything Mr Kelly asked was inappropriate, but without this potential conflict on the record, members and the public are unable to judge."

Mr Kelly joined the committee after Labour MSP Paul Martin resigned to take on other parliamentary responsibilities.

He said: "The fact that Tony Kelly is my brother is well known and has been for years. It has certainly been reported in national newspapers.

"The fact is, myself and my brother have differing views and the idea that there was any conflict of interest is frankly ridiculous."

A Labour Party spokesman added: "This is just a desperate attempt by the SNP to deflect attention from their disastrous handling of the Megrahi affair.

"Stewart Maxwell should apologise for his desperate attempt to smear a fellow parliamentarian.

"When the Conservatives brought up the relationship between Kenny MacAskill and his brother's involvement in the oil industry, they were first to cry foul. This is rank hypocrisy from Mr Maxwell."

Megrahi was freed from Greenock Prison and flown home to Libya on August 20 this year.