Gary McKinnon taken to hospital

Gary McKinnon, a UK national, was taken ill at his Appeal Hearing against his extradition to the US, on Wednesday, the 14th of February, 2007.

It is reported that Mr McKinnon has suffered from 'heart palpitations', as a result of the stress under which he has been placed.

Mr McKinnon is accused of hacking into 97 US computers, allegedly causing $700,000 of damage in the process, an alleged figure of some $7,216 per machine.


The defence for Mr McKinnon, QC Edmund Lawson, has argued that the extradition should be blocked, on the basis that the US authorities had offered him a shorter sentence in return for agreeing to extradition. This would constitute an "improper approach" to Mr McKinnon. Max Summers, who is representing the US authorities, told the court that the US was unable to deny this, and would need an adjournment to consider it.

No factual evidence of the extent of any alleged damage which has been done to computer systems has ever been published.

Britons wondering how a man who has never set foot in the US can be extradited to stand trial there should look into the outrageous Extradition Act of 2003, which gives power to the US to demand the extradition of Britons without any evidence being presented against them.

Mr McKinnon has been remanded on bail until 10th May.