An emotional courtroom scene unfolded as Lucy Connolly, a former childminder and wife of a local councilor, learned that her appeal against a 31-month prison sentence for an incendiary social media post had been rejected.
A panel of judges in London ruled that Connolly’s sentence for inciting racial hatred must stand, meaning she faces another eight months in prison, according to Daily Mail Online.
Connolly’s case has sparked fierce debate, with supporters calling her penalty excessive and critics underscoring the dangers of hate speech. The controversy centers on a tweet she posted on the day of the Southport murders, which called for “mass deportation” and violence against migrants.
The Court of Appeal heard that Connolly, who is serving her sentence at HMP Drake Hall in Staffordshire, argued she never intended to incite violence and was unaware that pleading guilty would mean admitting she did. However, judges disagreed, saying she was “well aware of what she was admitting.”
Connolly’s tweet, posted hours after three girls were killed in Southport on July 29, read: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care... if that makes me racist so be it.” She later deleted the tweet, claiming it was written in a moment of “extreme outrage and emotion.”
Her husband, Ray Connolly, who was a Conservative councillor until recently, condemned the decision as “shocking and unfair,” highlighting the toll on their 12-year-old daughter. He argued that Lucy had received a harsher sentence than “some paedophiles and domestic abusers.”
Outside the court, Connolly’s supporters, including the Free Speech Union, decried the outcome. The group, which helped fund her legal appeal, described the judgment as “deeply disappointing” and her sentence as “grossly disproportionate.”
Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said:
How can it be right for Lucy to have been condemned to spend more than two-and-a-half years in jail for a single tweet when members of grooming gangs who plead guilty to the sexual exploitation of children get lower sentences? Lucy should be at home with her 12-year-old daughter and husband, not rotting in jail.
Her legal team, led by Adam King, insisted the case highlighted failings in the justice system, especially around the interpretation of intent in social media posts. Connolly testified that she only realized the implications of her guilty plea when the judge explained it during sentencing.
Prosecutors took a starkly different position, insisting that Connolly’s tweet was not just venting but designed to stir up racial hatred and violence. Naeem Valli, representing the Crown, told the court that Connolly “clearly intended the racial hatred would be stirred up and also intended to incite serious violence.”
Valli pressed Connolly on her views about immigration and whether she believed the country was being “invaded.” Connolly responded that while she thought there were “massive numbers” entering the country unchecked, it was “absolutely incorrect” to say she did not want immigrants in the UK. Police arrested Connolly a week after her post, and further investigation uncovered more racist messages on her phone. She pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court and was sentenced in October.
Supporters argue that Connolly’s emotional state following the Southport tragedy, which involved the murder of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, contributed to her actions. Connolly referenced the death of her own son in 2011 as a factor in her heightened emotional response.
Nevertheless, the Court of Appeal judges dismissed claims that she did not understand her plea. They described her as “intelligent and articulate” and rejected the idea that her lawyer failed to explain the consequences. Lord Justice Holroyde, announcing the ruling, stated:
There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive. The application for leave to appeal against sentence therefore fails and is refused.
Lucy Connolly remains in HMP Drake Hall after losing her appeal against a sentence for inciting racial hatred through her tweet about migrants posted during nationwide unrest following the Southport murders. She maintains she never intended to provoke violence, while her supporters argue her punishment is excessive and politically motivated.
The courts, however, have been consistent in their judgment, finding no grounds for leniency and emphasizing the seriousness of her offense. Connolly’s legal team plans to continue fighting, but for now, she faces another two years behind bars.
