‘Inadequate’ Irish cybercrime law may benefit hacking accused

Irish cybercrime law is inadequate and outdated and this may favour two young Irish students alleged to be at the centre of a global hacking ring if the US seeks to extradite them, a law expert has said.

The two students — Donncha O’Cearbhaill, from Birr, Co Offaly, and Darren Martyn, from Co Galway — are alleged to be members of LulzSec, a spin-off from the Anonymous internet hacking group and were charged in US court documents on Tuesday.

Computer law expert TJ McIntyre said be believed the Irish LulzSec arrests would show up the inadequacies of Irish cybercrime law, and if the US sought to extradite, the first thing the men would do was examine whether there were suitable offences under Irish law.