removed battery,locked boot, now cannot unlock it.2000 xj8

I have a 2004 XJ, so I am not sure that this applies to your year car. Have you used your key to try to unlock the boot? I know that I owned my Jag for a least a year before I noticed that the boot had a key operated lock. It is not visible with a straight-on view of the rear of the car. The key lock on my boot is facing the ground and mounted in the inset of the license plate area. Look carefully for it there. If yours is the same design as mine, you should be able to open the boot manually.

cheers mate, key didnt work so took off number plate, drilled a 1 inch hole and accessed latch easypeasy, battery back on ,all well ! will check stuck mechanism later