NORTHLONDON TODAY | NEWS | Burrowes pushes for McKinnon answer | 2011

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Burrowes pushes for McKinnon answer

Thursday, 14 July 2011

By Mary McConnell

ENFIELD Southgate MP David Burrowes quizzed Prime Minister David Cameron on why it is taking the government so long to make a decision over the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.

Mr McKinnon, from Palmers Green, has had a “nine-year nightmare” after he hacked into American military computers in 2001 and 2002.

He was first arrested over hacking charges in 2002 and is still waiting for a resolution - Theresa May has been considering whether to block the extradition since was appointed Home Secretary last May. If convicted he could spend 60 years in jail but his lawyers argue sending Mr McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, to the US would breach his human rights.

During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday Mr Burrowes asked David Cameron: “While I recognise that the Home Secretary has a legal process to follow, does the Prime Minister share the concern for my constituent’s nine-year nightmare? He feels that his life is literally hanging by a thread that is waiting to be cut by extradition.”

Mr Cameron replied: “I do recognise the seriousness of this case, and the Deputy Prime Minister and I actually raised it with President Obama when he visited. I think the point is that it is not so much about the alleged offence, which everyone knows is a very serious offence, and we can understand why the Americans feel so strongly about it.

“The case is now in front of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary, who has to consider reports about Gary McKinnon’s health and well-being. It is right that she does that in a proper and effectively—I am sorry to use the word again today—quasi-judicial way.”

Mr Burrowes said that he wanted to make sure the Prime Minister knows the issue would not be going away. “This is an ongoing concern. Every day that goes by is a day too long for Gary. This needs to be resolved but in the right terms,” he added.

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