Rebecca O’Connor of East Coast FM reports the High Court has ordered the extradition of a Wicklow man to the US where he’s facing charges for his alleged links to the Silk Road website.
Gary Davis from Johnstown Court in Kilpedder could be jailed for life if he’s convicted.
Before it was shut down by the FBI three years ago, Silk Road was an online marketplace that allowed drug dealing and other illicit trades to take place.
It operated in the Darknet – a part of the internet that’s difficult to access and allows users remain anonymous.
Gary Davis is accused of running the website and is facing charges of conspiring to distribute narcotics, commit computer hacking and commit money laundering.
His lawyers team objected to his surrender saying he was a vulnerable person who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and suffers from depression.
As a result, they argued he’d be subjected to inhuman and degrading conditions in US prisons and that this would amount to a breach of his rights.
However, the High Court has ruled against him and paved the way for his extradition.Mr. Justice Paul McDermott said he was satisfied that US authorities would protect him and do everything necessary to accommodate someone with Asperger’s
The 27-year-old has 15 days to appeal the decision.
