A woman who was jailed for posting a race hate message on social media has lost her appeal against the sentence. Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was imprisoned for 31 months after calling for “mass deportation” and inciting followers to set fire to hotels housing migrants. The message, which was viewed 310,000 times before being deleted, was posted on the same day three girls were killed in Southport.
Connolly’s appeal was dismissed by judges at the Court of Appeal, who determined that the sentence imposed was not excessively harsh. The 41-year-old childminder had posted the offensive message on 29 July 2024 and was arrested on 6 August after the post garnered widespread attention. Despite her plea of guilty to inciting racial hatred, Connolly’s appeal was based on information that the court rejected.
Following the court’s decision, Connolly’s husband expressed disappointment at the outcome, stating that his wife had paid a significant price for her mistake. Despite facing calls for his resignation from local political positions, he remained a member of Northampton Town Council. He emphasized that his wife’s actions were a result of emotions surrounding the tragic events in Southport and maintained that she is not a racist, citing her positive interactions with children of various backgrounds through her childminding work.
In the aftermath of the appeal court ruling, Connolly’s husband reflected on the challenges faced during the separation from his wife and the impact on their family. He lamented the lack of mercy shown by the court and reiterated his belief in his wife’s character. Despite facing electoral defeat in the local elections, he remained committed to supporting his wife as they navigate the consequences of her actions
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