Teen accused of attacking SOCA website released on conditional bail

Ryan Cleary’s bail conditions mean he is banned from using any device capable of connecting to the internet The teenager accused of attacking the website of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency has been released on conditional bail. Prosecutors were unsuccessful in their appeal against Ryan Cleary’s bail in a hastily convened hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday. The 19-year-old, who was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome last week, was arrested last Monday as part of an international investigation into the internet hacking group LulzSec following attacks on the CIA and US Senate. Cleary’s bail conditions mean he is banned from using any device capable of connecting to the internet. The Essex teenager must observe a curfew between 9am and 7pm. He will be electronically tagged and must not leave the house without his mother, Rita Cleary. She was in court for the short hearing on Monday afternoon. The court reversed an earlier decision to hear Cleary’s case tomorrow after an appeal over his “vulnerability” from his legal team. The student has spent the past week being interrogated by the FBI and UK police over the alleged attacks. He could yet be charged with further offences. Cleary’s computers, iPhone and PS3 have been confiscated by police. In a statement read outside court, Cleary’s lawyers said: “Ryan Cleary is very relieved to be granted bail and to be home to his mum, his cats and his books. “He has cooperated with police and will continue to do so. Ryan has last week been diagnosed with Aspergers… He will now be provided with the professional support he needs. His obvious intelligence can now be channelled into a worthwhile pursuit. “One thing not so positive from this case is that the British police are investigating and appear to be accepting jurisdiction [unlike the Gary McKinnock case]. Ryan will not be making further statement for the time being.” The case is due back at Southwark crown court for a case management hearing on 30 August. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly “for publication”. • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook LulzSec Hacking Internet Computing Digital media Josh Halliday guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 27, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.