UK Home Secretary Boots Out Hacker's Appeal

Home Secretary Boots Out Hacker's Appeal

7:26am UK, Friday November 27, 2009

Adam Arnold, Sky News Online

The Home Secretary has rejected a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition of Gary McKinnon to the US on computer hacking charges.

Alan Johnson said he had considered demands for him to intervene in the case but had decided the extradition would not breach Mr McKinnon's human rights.

The 43-year-old, from Wood Green in north London, is accused of breaking into the Pentagon's computer system but says he was just seeking UFO evidence.

Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, was given hope last month when the Home Secretary agreed to study new medical evidence before deciding on his extradition to the US.

Mr Johnson's deliberations came after the High Court refused Mr McKinnon permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against his removal to America.

Mr McKinnon's family say that his health has deteriorated significantly under the pressure of the pending extradition and fears about how he will be treated by the US authorities.

Alan Johnson rejected new appeal

Now in a statement, Mr Johnson said: "I have carefully considered the representations in the case of Gary McKinnon.

"The information is not materially different from that placed before the High Court earlier this year and does not demonstrate that sending Mr McKinnon to the US would breach his human rights."

He added: "As the courts have affirmed, I have no general discretion. If Mr McKinnon's human rights would be breached, I must stop the extradition. If they would not be breached, the extradition must go ahead."

Mr McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, said Mr Johnson and the Government "should hang their heads in shame".

"To force a peaceful, vulnerable, misguided UFO fanatic like Gary thousands of miles away from his much-needed support network is barbaric," she said.

"This is a cruel and miserable decision. If the severity of Gary's medical condition isn't sufficient to prevent his extradition, I can't imagine what is.

"God help others facing a similar fate. I'm so upset and angry."

Ms Sharp said her legal team would now apply for a judicial review, but if that was not granted then her son could be extradited before Christmas. "What a heartless and cowardly decision this is," she added.