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Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Childminder jailed for vile tweet on day of Southport attack to be released
The wife of a former Conservative councillor insisted she did not intend to incite violence when she tweeted urging people to set fire to migrant hotels. An ex-Tory councillor's wife jailed after she called for migrant hotels to be set on fire on the day of the Southport attack will be released in weeks. The Court of Appeal has ruled Lucy Connolly, 41, had not intended the post to incite violence with the post in which she urged people to "set fire to all the f* hotels full of the b** for all I care". This means Connolly, who was a childminder, will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, reports the Mirror. She was jailed for 31 months in October following the tweet, which was viewed more than 300,000 times before it was deleted. The mum was found guilty of inciting racial hatred, after a court heard "serious disorder" broke out across the country following the murders of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside. False rumours spread online that the suspect was an illegal immigrant. In full, Connolly's tweet 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." Her sentence, handed out at Birmingham Crown Court, was designed "to both punish and deter". But her husband, former West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, was among several politicians to react with anger. Nigel Farage previously called for her release and called her jail term "absolutely excessive". Speaking at an event in May, Mr Farage, who is Leader of Reform, said: "I want to make it absolutely clear: Lucy Connolly should not be in prison. "While she should not have said what she said, understand there were millions of mothers at that moment in time after Southport feeling exactly the same way." Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "People have received less time in jail — or no time — for actual physical and sexual assaults." However, Sir Keir Starmer has defended the sentence, saying he would "always support" the UK court system. But Connolly, from Northampton, is likely to be released next month, having served just 40 per cent of her term. One of Connolly's pals said she would be "with a glass of Whispering Angel in hand" this time in August, reports the Evening Standard. Following the Southport atrocities, there was a wave of unrest across the country with migrants being targeted in attacks at hotels. There were also several clashes with police in cities and towns across the UK. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Childminder who posted vile tweet on day of Southport attack being released from jail
Lucy Connolly, the wife of a former Conservative county councillor, had insisted she did not intend to incite violence by posting an alarming tweet on X on the day of the Southport attack The wife of a former Conservative county councillor jailed for calling for migrant hotels to be set on fire on the day of the Southport attack will be released in weeks. The Court of Appeal has ruled Lucy Connolly, 41, had not intended the post to incite violence with the post in which she urged people to "set fire to all the f* hotels full of the b** for all I care". It means Connolly, who prior to her conviction was a childminder, will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term. She was jailed for 31 months in October following the tweet, which was viewed more than 300,000 times before it was deleted. The mum was found guilty of inciting racial hatred, after a court heard "serious disorder" broke out across the country following the murders of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside. False rumours spread online that the suspect was an illegal immigrant. It comes after girl, 3, was found dead on a popular Greece tourist beach by a horrified passerby. In full, Connolly's tweet 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." Her sentence, handed out at Birmingham Crown Court, was designed "to both punish and deter". But her husband, former West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, was among several politicians to react with anger. Nigel Farage previously called for her release and called her jail term "absolutely excessive". Speaking at an event in May, Mr Farage, who is Leader of Reform, said: "I want to make it absolutely clear: Lucy Connolly should not be in prison. While she should not have said what she said, understand there were millions of mothers at that moment in time after Southport feeling exactly the same way." Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "People have received less time in jail — or no time — for actual physical and sexual assaults." However, Sir Keir Starmer has defended the sentence, saying he would "always support" the UK court system. But Connolly, from Northampton, is likely to be released next month, having served just 40 per cent of her term. One of Connolly's pals said she would be "with a glass of Whispering Angel in hand" this time in August, reports the Evening Standard. Following the Southport atrocities, there was a wave of unrest across the country with migrants being targeted in attacks at hotels. There were also several clashes with police in cities and towns in England.
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Court to rule on Conor McGregor's appeal against civil finding he assaulted Nikita Hand
The Court of Appeal will deliver its ruling on Thursday in the appeal by Conor McGregor against the High Court civil jury finding that he assaulted Nikita Hand. Last November, a jury found in Ms Hand's favour, in a case where she alleged Mr McGregor had raped her in a hotel room in Dublin in 2018. The jury awarded her €250,000 in damages. Mr McGregor, who denied the allegations, was also ordered to pay Ms Hand's costs in the case. The Court of Appeal has heard the legal costs involved in the civil assault trial totalled €1.3m. Earlier this month, the MMA fighter dramatically withdrew one of his main grounds of appeal in the case which was fresh evidence he wanted to introduce. The fresh evidence in question had related to testimony to be given by the former Northern Irish state pathologist Professor Jack Crane. This was regarding sworn affidavits from Ms Hand's neighbours at the time of the alleged assault - Samantha O'Reilly and Stephen Cummins - claiming they had heard an altercation within Ms Hand's apartment at the time of the issues in dispute in December 2018. Nikita Hand was awarded €250,000 in damages in the original case. File photo: Niall Carson/PA On foot of this, John Gordon SC, for Ms Hand, said that Mr McGregor should face a charge of inducing others to commit perjury on his behalf. He added that it was designed to "undermine [his] client's reputation" and she didn't have a chance to refute the claims in court. The other grounds of appeal centred around Mr McGregor's answers to gardaí when he was interviewed after Ms Hand alleged he had raped her. His lawyers said that the jury hearing that he said 'no comment' about 100 times was prejudicial evidence which should not have been introduced. Mr McGregor's legal team also appealed on the basis of the 'issue paper' given to the jury, which laid out the questions they had to answer in reaching their verdict. James Lawrence Separately, no costs order was made against Ms Hand for those associated with co-defendant James Lawrence in the case. Mr Lawrence, a friend of Mr McGregor, also denied assaulting Ms Hand on the same day in the Beacon Hotel. Both men said they had consensual sex with her. Mr Lawrence appealed the High Court's decision not to award him his costs even though the jury found he did not assault Ms Hand. During the trial, the court heard that Mr McGregor had paid all of Mr Lawrence's costs. The judgement will be delivered by Ms Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice O'Moore and Mr Justice MacGrath at 2pm on Thursday.
Sunday World
14 hours ago
- Sunday World
Former Ryanair pilot charged with €10m cannabis haul granted bail and gives up licence
LATEST | Brendan O'Mara (62) is charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply, at his home address on May 7 this year. Brendan O'Mara. Photo: Eamon Ward As a condition of his bail, Brendan O'Mara (62) must surrender his pilot's licence due to a concern he might avoid justice by procuring an aircraft at a private airfield to leave the jurisdiction. Mr Justice John Edwards said the court did have concerns Mr O'Mara could be a flight risk due to the fact that a short time before being arrested, he arranged to emigrate to the United States. However, the court's concerns were not at a level to deny the accused bail. Mr O'Mara, of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, is charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply, at his home address on May 7 this year. He was arrested after gardaí and Customs officers discovered pallets at his home in Meelick, allegedly containing cannabis weighing an estimated 502kg, with a street value of over €10million. He was refused bail at the High Court recently but appealed this decision before the Court of Appeal today. Brendan O'Mara. Photo: Eamon Ward News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, July 30 Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said that Ms Justice Eileen Creedon in the High Court had refused the accused bail, as she ruled the accused was a flight risk due to being a commercial pilot who had access to airfields. Mr Bowman said the evidential basis of that was lacking, as the accused does not have access to any airfield and is not a member of an airfield. Mr Justice Edwards said that it was still a theoretical possibility that the accused could procure an aircraft, to which Mr Bowman said his client was willing to surrender his pilot's licence, meaning that 'short of stealing an aircraft, he can't get one'. Mr Bowman went on to say that an independent surety of €150,000 was being offered by the accused's sister, and the accused would also surrender all his documentation. Counsel for the State, Roisin Lacey SC said that the accused has access to aircraft to remove him from the jurisdiction, with 50 years' experience in that trade meaning he would have a number of contacts. Ms Lacey said that if he were to leave the jurisdiction, it was not known what access he would have to other aircraft. She also said that the accused had previously made preparations to leave Ireland with his family and begin work in America. Read more In delivering the court's ruling, Mr Justice Edwards said that the charge against the accused was a very serious one, which carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He noted that the accused was a commercial pilot by profession, who had worked for Ryanair until recently, so he was used to crossing borders. 'In theory, he could obtain the use of an aircraft at a private airfield and pilot it out of the jurisdiction and use that as the staging post to move further afield and avoid justice,' said Mr Justice Edwards. He went on to say that what was more concerning was the fact that a short time before the accused was arrested, he had made arrangements to emigrate to the United States. 'It is correct to say that we do have concerns about flight, but not at the level that requires us to deny bail absolutely,' said Mr Justice Edwards. Bail was granted, with conditions that the accused provide an independent surety of €150,000, as well as his own bond of €70,000, €35,000 of which is to be lodged. He must provide a mobile phone number to gardaí and sign on daily at the garda station; he must not leave the jurisdiction and surrender his passport and all pilot's licences. He must give an undertaking not to attend at any airfield; he must reside at his family home in Co. Clare; he must not apply for any aviation job at any level; he must keep the peace and be of good behaviour; and he must not apply for any travel documentation, nor travel into Northern Ireland.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Tory councillor's wife jailed for Southport riots tweet is set to be freed within weeks, close friend says
The wife of a Conservative councillor who was sentenced to two years in jail over a 'racist' tweet will be freed next month, a close friend has said. Lucy Connolly was imprisoned at HMP Drake Hall, Staffordshire after she pleaded guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred following last summer's Southport riots. But now a friend of the mother and former childminder has shared a post to X saying Connolly will be 'with a glass of Whispering Angel in-hand' this time next month. The pal, who describes herself as a '"conspiracy" blonde', said: 'Missed a call whilst working today and not spoke to her for 2 weeks now... *HOWEVER* Happy to say that this time next month Lucy will be with a glass of Whispering Angel in-hand - And more importantly her family AT HOME.' She concluded the post with, 'What a year it's been...' Connolly was given a 31-month sentence in October after admitting to making her 'racist' post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post, which she later deleted, said: '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.' News of Connolly's scheduled release comes just two months after she lost an appeal to shorten her 31-month sentence. The post, which she later deleted, said: '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' Connolly had told the Court of Appeal in London she 'never' intended to incite violence and did not realise pleading guilty would mean she accepted she had. But her argument was rejected. A number of public figures and politicians have spoken out since Connolly was handed her sentence claiming she is a victim of 'two-tier justice'. Connolly's husband, Raymond, a former West Northamptonshire Conservative councillor, said on the day she lost her appeal: 'Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will release 40,000 prisoners, some of them dangerous men on tag. 'Lucy has not been allowed out on tag and she has been denied leave to see our child who is struggling. 'Today, the court had the opportunity to reduce her cruelly long and disproportionate sentence, but they refused. That feels like two-tier justice. 'The British people know all this is not right. They have given an amazing £81,000 so far to Lucy's crowd-funder. Despite today's upsetting setback, Lucy gets courage from everyone's kind support.' Mr Connolly had been a Tory West Northamptonshire district councillor but lost his seat in May. He remains on the town council. Lucy Connolly, of Northampton, was arrested on August 6, by which point she had deleted her social media account. But other messages which included other condemning remarks were uncovered by officers who seized her phone. Her X post was made just hours after killer Axel Rudakubana murdered three young girls and attempted to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, sparking nationwide unrest. The former childminder was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court in October after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred. The Southport atrocity sparked nationwide unrest, with several people - including Connolly - jailed as a result. Her tweet was viewed 310,000 times in three-and-a-half hours before she deleted it. She later pleaded guilty to distributing material with the intention of stirring up racial hatred at Birmingham Crown Court and was sentenced to 31 months in prison in October. But she told the Court of Appeal in May that she had no idea the full extent of what she was admitting, and that her solicitor Liam Muir had not properly explained what 'inciting violence' meant in the context of her tweet. It was only when the judge was speaking at her sentencing hearing that it fully dawned on her, she said when applying to have her prison term reduced. The case sparked international interest with the White House saying in May it was 'monitoring' Connolly's case. It came as US officials said they had 'concerns' about free speech in Britain. The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.
