Autistic man to be extradicted to US
KILPEDDER MAN COULD FACE LIFE IN PRISON FOR ALLEGED SILK ROAD ROLE
of the appeal was not based upon a point of law and as such, was not permitted in law.
Mr Justice Mahon said the High Court judge’s decision was based on facts found by him following a detailed and thorough consideration of evidence and information, including medical evidence and evidence relating to the US Federal prison system.
The appeal effectively invited the court to reach a different conclusion on the same evidence to that of the High Court, Mr Justice Mahon said.
Even if this court was empowered to review the High Court judge’s findings, Mr Justice Mahon said he would not reach a different conclusion.
‘I wish to emphasis that I in no way seek to diminish or trivialise the very real concerns and worries of the appellant [Davis] and his family as he faces the prospect of extradition to the United States and being imprisoned there,’ Mr Justice Mahon said.
‘Such a prospect would be daunting for an individual in robust mental health let alone someone coping with a significant mental health condition, such as Davis.’
It is hoped that the extent to which the issues relating to Davis’ diagnosis of Asbergers Syndrome had been debated and considered in these proceedings, and the assurances provided by the US authorities will reduce these concerns to an appreciable degree, the judge said.
Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards said they agreed with Mr Justice Mahon’s judgment.
After the judgment was delivered, Mr Davis accepted the judgment with a nod to the large number of family members and supporters who had joined him in court. They came to embrace him, amid emotional scenes, but he was lead away by prison officers before he could embrace all of them.
He has been on bail since his arrest in January 2014.
It is alleged that Davis was an administrator of the Silk Road website using the pseudonym ‘Libertas’, according to the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
The website is said to have facilitated the sale of illicit drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and other illegal drugs. Purchasers of illicit drugs from the website were paid in ‘Bitcoins’ and Silk Road revenue was based on a commission of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of sale revenue.
Commissions earned by Silk Road are said to run to tens of millions of dollars.
It is alleged that Davis was paid $1,500 per week for his services.
In the course of its investigation of the Silk Road website, the FBI arrested a US citizen Ross Ulbricht, whom it is believed is the owner and operator if the website. It is alleged that Davis’ involvement was identified from information extracted from Mr Ulbricht’s computers.
Mr Davis is 28-year-old single man who lives with his parents in Wicklow. He is the youngest of five children, has a poor employment history, is ‘obsessed with computers’ and is described as a ‘ loner, naiive and immature’.
In a report dated January 21, 2014, Prof Michael Fitzgerald, Consultant Psychiatrist, diagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. In his view, Asperger’s Syndrome has been evident since childhood.
Prof Simon Barron Cohen, Professor of Development Psychopathology at Trinity College Cambridge, confirmed Prof Fitzgerald’s diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. Prof Barron- Cohen rated his Asperger’s Syndrom as being ‘very severe’. TEENAGERS. One word but such a bloody big headache for parents. When they’re small you can’t wait for them to get older so you’re done with nappies and bottles and sleepless nights. And then they become teenagers and it’s a whole other set of problems which still ultimately result in sleepless nights.
It’s a stage I’m finding difficult to navigate. I hate having to be a mature, responsible adult who gives out when they come in late and demands to know what they’ve been up to. Secretly I’m far more interested in the gritty details of their adolescent friendships, none of which I’m ever sadly, going to be privy to. I want to be allowed follow him on Facebook and Instagram, watch his Snapchat videos and be part of his WhatsApp group.
I know, I know, you all think I’m reliving my teenage years vicariously through my nearly 15-year-old – but I’m not. He’s way more sensible and well-behaved than I was at his age, which makes me relieved and also slightly disappointed.
So when he asked me could he have a few friends over while he was babysitting The Youngest the other day, I immediately said Yes. After all isn’t it better to know where he is and who he is with? That’s what all parenting experts say.
I rang to check everything was ok. The Youngest answered the phone amid a cacophony of teenage male and female voices. ‘Eh how many are there?’ I asked her. She paused, probably for effect and announced dramatically: ‘11.’
Eleven teenagers wrecking the gaff. I asked to speak to The Eldest. ‘11? Seriously? You said a few friends.’ He wasn’t a bit bothered. ‘Well, you didn’t ask me to specify numbers.’ Cheeky little git. I told him not to make a mess and because I couldn’t think of anything else to say I hung up and texted his father to inform him of this most recent development.
As expected he went ballistic and a war of words via text ensued between father and son with the teenager eventually texting, ‘Dad, relax. You’d swear all my friends were drug addicts.’ Drugs? Did someone mention drugs?.
I finished work early but rather than go home and face 11 teenagers, I chickened out and went to Aldi for a browse before sitting in the car park for 10 minutes eating a packet of crisps. Himself pulled into the house at the same time as me.
‘You go first... I’m afraid,’ I told him, nudging him in front of me. He charged through the front door all prepared for battle only to find the house empty save our own two offspring. ‘Look at the state of the couch,’ he said, plumping cushions and collecting mugs, something he’d normally never do.
The Teenager rolled his eyes and I started to giggle uncontrollably. Himself glared. ‘You do know you’re supposed to be the adult here?’ I nodded, afraid to speak in case I’d laugh. ‘Are you not going to say anything to him?’ he asked me.
I looked at The Eldest: ‘Did you get the shift?’