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The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilties news archive contains stories on learning disabilities going back to 2001. 

 

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Title Autistic Society slams Gary Mckinnon decision
Full Story

The National Autistic Society (NAS) said it would continue to support McKinnon, who has Asperger's Syndrome, after the High Court decision to extradite him to America, where he faces trial for hacking into US military networks.

The High Court ruling comes after two judicial review hearings examined whether the Home Secretary had been right in deciding to extradite the 43-year-old from Wood Green, north London, following his diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome, and whether the Director for Public Prosecutions should have allowed him to stand trial in the UK.

The NAS supplied evidence about Asperger's Syndrome during the judicial review process, urging that his condition be taken into consideration.

The charity has been campaigning to stop McKinnon's extradition since his diagnosis and has written to both the Home Secretary and the Attorney General.

Thousands of NAS supporters have also voiced their support, writing to their MPs and signing a petition which was delivered to Downing Street by McKinnon's mother earlier this month.

The evidence submitted by the NAS explained the nature of Asperger's Syndrome and the fact that diagnosis in adults is often late, as in Mr McKinnon's case. This included information explaining that people with the condition may be particularly vulnerable because of their difficulties with social awareness and communication, and may be susceptible to additional mental health problems as a result of their disability.

Mr McKinnon admitted breaking into the US military computers in 2001-2, during a period of heightened security in the wake of the September 11,
2001 attacks.

He was caught as he tried to download a grainy black and white photograph which he believed was an alien spacecraft from a Nasa computer housed in the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. He was easily traced by the authorities because he used his own email address.

He has always said he had no malicious intent but was looking for classified documents on UFOs which he believed the US authorities had suppressed.

But the US authorities said he was responsible for the "biggest military hack of all time" that had been highly damaging and involved 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa.

In a 41-page judgment, the judges at the High Court today ruled extradition was "a lawful and proportionate response to his offending".

Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS, said: "We are so disappointed for Gary and his family and so angry he is still in this position.

"The threat of extradition has been hanging over him for seven long years and sadly the nightmare continues.

"The NAS has campaigned hard for his extradition to be reconsidered in the light of his diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome.

"We will continue to do whatever we can to keep him here in the UK and will support him in his appeal to the Supreme Court.

"People with Asperger's Syndrome are often far more vulnerable than initial appearances would suggest, frequently isolated, often bullied and sadly many experience severe mental health problems if they do not get the right support.

"We are extremely disappointed that the High Court has decided to continue with Gary's extradition despite these concerns."

McKinnon may now have the opportunity to appeal to the House of Lords. The NAS has said it will continue to campaign for his extradition to be stopped.

Asperger's Syndrome is a form of autism, a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

Autism is estimated to affect one in 100 people, which equates to approximately 300,000 adults in England and over 500,000 people across the UK.

Release Date 31/07/2009
Source Press Association
CountryUnited Kingdom

 

These stories are copied from external news agencies unchanged and are reproduced with the agencies' permission.