Gary McKinnon (ASD computer hacker) extradition to US blocked by Theresa May

[LittenTree]

about time, too

[willyoulistentome]

I'm glad he won't be extradited, but I suspect a deal went on here. i.e we give you Abu Hamsa and we get to keep Gary McKinnon.

[lambethlil]

Win win situation all round then!

I can't see a deal there- we wanted to extradite AH, it was the EU Court of Human rights that blocked us.

[Tryingtothinkofnewsnazzyname]

Yes if that's the deal it's a good one!

[bialystockandbloom]

And it's clear which of the two is more of a threat to any country's security.

[bialystockandbloom]

But actually I don't think a deal was done either.

[Shagmundfreud]

DS2 has aspergers. Last year at the age of six he worked out how to hack the administrator function of DH's laptop by watching YouTube hacking videos.

So as you can imagine, I've been watching this case and empathising with Gary Mckinnons mum like mad!

So pleased that he won't be extradited. But gutted about some of the Nast comments about aspergers which are coming up on twitter.

[stopcallingmefrank]

Theresa May said something I agree with

The story is not over yet, though. Do you think the DPP will come under pressure to prosecute him in the UK? or will it all quietly fade away?

[suburbandream]

So relieved for him and his Mum.

[ScreamingManAndGoryOn]

As the parent of a DS with Aspergers, I was very pleased to hear this. Any crime he committed was done here in the UK. Anyone who has a child with Aspergers and knows about their obsessions and thought processes will be able to sympathise with Gary and his family.

Huge sighs of relief from here.

[Shinyshoes1]

I don't know. He always looked so damn smug all the time, almost arrogant

[bialystockandbloom]

Shinyshoes I wonder how any of us would come across when we have dozens of cameras flashing in our faces, especially if we had Aspergers syndrome

[edam]

delighted for the Mackinnons.

Let's hope Teresa May DOES actually introduce a system where UK courts can decide whether someone should stand trial in the UK or abroad. Ridiculous that someone who was sat at a computer in the UK, and has never been to America, can be extradited there.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Another mum of a child with ASD who's relieved for them both here. DS password protected the PC's in our house. He was 4. He has subsequently brought home pictures from school of nuclear establishments in various countries. He just flows with what interests him there is no intent or maliciousness to his character he just has to find out all he can about something if its caught his interest.

[caramelwaffle]

Really glad about this.

As an aside, he has skills that would be priceless for this country.

[musicmadness]

I think this is the first time Theresa May has done something I agree with!

So pleased to hear this.

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

Really pleased to hear this.

[Vagaceratops]

I don't know. He always looked so damn smug all the time, almost arrogant

What a stupid thing to say.

I am so pleased for Gary and his Mum Janice. Finally the 10 years of torture is over.

[AThingInYourLife]

Delighted at this news :)

[AThingInYourLife]

"He always looked so damn smug all the time, almost arrogant"

:o

I don't know why we bother having trials. Some people just look guilty/evil/arrogant/smug and that should be enough to put them away.

[lambethlil]

I don't know. He always looked so damn smug all the time, almost arrogant

Yeah right, lock him up for his face.

[mrsfuzzy]

this is fantastic news for gary and his mum, my eldest son has aspergers and until you speak to him you wouldn't really know there was a problem, he too is obessed with computing and number crunching, but struggles around people he doesn't know, i've followed the story from the word go, and have felt such empathy for mother and son, let's hope things go better for them now, incidently rather than punishing could his IT talents not be used in a constructive way?

[caramelwaffle]

As the mother of a child with some special needs but a technological whizz, this has kept me interested.

Looks like an angel however so, you know, no worry's

[HoratiaWinwood]

Great news.

His extradition would have set a dangerous precedent, regardless of his own guilt or otherwise.

We do need to decide where cyber crimes happen, though. Where the perpetrator is? Where the victim is? Neither of those quite works.

[Dawndonna]

He always looked so damn smug all the time, almost arrogant

Fairly typical Aspie then, doesn't understand facial expressions. Often only has one. Because of a lack of understanding of the world around them can often appear aloof and arrogant, although that is rarely the case.

All you've done Shiny is demonstrate your lack of knowledge. Perhaps you would have been better to check out AS before commenting.