Hacked off about Gary McKinnon

Acceding to the US request to extradite Gary Mckinnon to the US under anti-terrorist legislation is an own goal for British justice (McKinnon should be extradited, court rules, 1 August). Demanding extradition and threatening ludicrous jail terms is a US own goal, particularly when they claim that any idiot could do what he did, yet that he deserves up to 70 years jail. One hopes that as a result of his efforts their systems are a tad more effective. If so an award would be more appropriate than a penalty. Its close run who are the wackiest – Mckinnon and his extraterrestrials, or those here and in the US busy shooting themselves in the feet.

Roger Davies

Chelmsford, Essex

• As a parent of a young person with Asperger's who has experienced at first hand their struggle to cope in the world, and the toll it has taken on our family, I'm beginning to suspect there is more to politicians' callous indifference to the plight of Gary McKinnon. Denis MacShane's implied suggestion that the diagnosis of Asperger's was "a ploy" exemplifies a wider political unwillingness to address the issue of the many people with autism mired in the judicial system. His mother's direct appeal to President Obama may be McKinnon's best hope; expecting Gordon Brown to intervene when the last decade has amply demonstrated his lack of moral courage is beyond credulity.

Name and address supplied

• As a teacher of many aspy young people, and the mother of an adult one, I can imagine any of them doing what Gary did with no malicious intent, but even if he wasn't aspy, where is the evidence that he did any harm (see Computer Weekly's report of CPS/DPP comments on lack of evidence), let alone that he intended harm?

How can our government compound the subservience to America that led them to sign the one-sided extradition treaty by sending anyone, particularly such a vulnerable person, to the barbaric US penal system? Gary should have been charged in this country and finished whatever punishment was decreed years ago. As he was not, he should now be tried in the UK, and freed to carry on his life. It has been left to those on the right to run with this, and they have their own agenda.

Lynne Gregory Manchester

Augusto Pinochet was sent home to Chile on "health grounds" by the then home secretary, Jack Straw, denying Spain's extradition request for Pinochet to face trial for murder. Gary McKinnon, on the other hand, has real health issues, but it seems he will still have to go to the US to face trial. Odd, that.

Phil McNally


• The US was very happy to use the brains of Werner von Braun, a former enemy, to drive their space race in the 50s and 60s. Why do they not use the same logic and, rather than trying to persecute McKinnon, use his talent to improve the security of their computer systems?

Dr Peter Haydn Smith

Consultant forensic psychiatrist, Hellingly, East Sussex

• It is reported that, in response to McKinnon's offer to explain his hacking methods to the Americans, "they demurred, explaining that any idiot could have done what he did". If this is so, surely somebody in the US security system should be prosecuted for criminal incompetence for subjecting America to protection by a system that any idiot/terrorist could break into.

Bill Keppler


• Can we not ask for the extradition of the Pentagon officials who put western security at risk by allowing their computer systems to be hacked into?

Martin Brayne

Chinley, Derbyshire

• Shouldn't we tip our hats towards a well-known euphemism and call moves to extradite Gary McKinnon to the US legal rendition?

Dave Hulme


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