‘Hacktivists’ yet to face prosecution six months after arrests

Six months after two Irish students were named as being allegedly involved in some of the world’s most infamous hacking incidents, neither has faced any prosecution — even though their former associates have faced stiff penalties.

Hector Monsegur, the hacking mastermind turned informant whose evidence led to the naming of Galway’s Darren Martyn and Birr native Donncha O’Cearrbhail in US court papers, has seen sentencing for his own catalogue of offences postponed for six months “in light of his ongoing co-operation” with investigators.

In March, the two Irish men were named among six suspected members of “hacktivist” group Anonymous and splinter groups such as Lulzsec, Internet Fed, and AntiSec. They were accused, among other things, of hacking the Fine Gael website, the Fox broadcasting network, and a Garda/FBI conference call.