For shabby treatment after WWII - about fracking time.
An online petition has led to an official apology over the treatment of wartime hero Alan Turing from Gordon Brown.
Turing performed vital work in the Bletchley code-breaking centre during the Second World War, work which shortened the war and saved countless lives. However he was prosecuted for homosexuality in 1952, barred from government work and committed suicide shortly afterwards.
Now, over 50 years later, the UK government has formally apologised for the treatment of the mathematician, who is regarded by many as one of the founding fathers of computing.
"I am both pleased and proud that, thanks to a coalition of computer scientists, historians and LGBT activists, we have this year a chance to mark and celebrate another contribution to Britain's fight against the darkness of dictatorship; that of code-breaker Alan Turing," said Gordon Brown in a statement.
"While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can't put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him."
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Issue: 107 | December, 2009