Wife of Tory councillor jailed for 31 months over social media post stirring up racial hatred
Lucy Connolly, a 41-year-old former childminder, later apologised for acting on "false and malicious" information after making online comments following the Southport stabbings.
Thursday 17 October 2024 18:42, UK
The wife of a Conservative councillor has been jailed for 31 months after pleading guilty to publishing written material to stir up racial hatred after the Southport stabbings.
Former childminder Lucy Connolly published a post on her X account, which she later deleted, that called for "mass deportation now", and for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire, adding: "If that makes me racist, so be it."
Her comments were viewed 310,000 times and reposted by 940 other X users.
She wrote the post on the day three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.
False information claiming the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker spread online and led to riots and unrest in cities and towns across the UK.
The 41-year-old, from Northampton, later apologised for acting on "false and malicious" information.
Connolly, who is married to West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.
Mr Connolly declined to comment as he left the court. He said during an earlier hearing that the post was completely out of character for his wife.
Sentencing Connolly, Judge Melbourne Inman KC said of the Southport stabbings: "Some people used that tragedy as an opportunity to sow division and hatred, often using social media, leading to a number of towns and cities being disfigured."
He added: "When you published those words you were well aware how volatile the situation was.
"That volatility led to serious disorder where mindless violence was used."
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The judge added she had encouraged activity which threatened or endangered life.
The sentencing hearing was told Connolly sent a WhatsApp message on 5 August joking the tweet to her 10,000 followers had "bit me on the arse, lol".
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She also sent another tweet commenting on a sword attack which read: "I bet my house it was one of these boat invaders," the court heard.
Connolly, who appeared via a video link from HMP Peterborough, was ordered to serve 40% of her 31-month sentence in prison before being released on licence.