by The wife of a Conservative councilor who used Twitter to incite racial hatred against asylum seekers on the day of the Southport attacks has been jailed for 31 months.
Lucy Connolly, who is married to West Northamptonshire councilor Raymond Connolly, posted a message on the evening of July 29 which said: “Deportation mass now, set all the f*** hotels full of b*** on fire **** whatever with me, while you are at it take the treacherous government and the politicians with them.
I feel physically sick knowing what these families have to endure now. If that makes me racist, so be it.”
Connolly, 41, remained calm as she appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday via video link to HMP Peterborough as her husband watched the proceedings in the media-packed public gallery.
The Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Melbourne Inman KC, said Connolly was “well aware of how volatile the situation was” when she posted the tweet, which was viewed 310,000 times in the three and a half hours it was live before it was deleted she is
He said: “As everyone knows, that unrest led to serious disorder in several parts of the country where mindless violence was used to injure and damage completely innocent members of the public and their property .”
The judge also said that Connolly had instigated an activity which endangered or threatened life.
The sentencing hearing was told the former babysitter sent a WhatsApp message on August 5 joking that the tweet to her 10,000 followers was “I was on the ass, lol”.
She was arrested on August 6, by which point she had deleted her social media account, but officers who seized her phone uncovered other messages that included more racist remarks.
Opening the case, prosecutor Naeem Valli said that Connolly, who has no previous convictions, sent another tweet commenting on a sword attack that said: “I bet my house he was one of the boat invaders.”
Another post sent by Connolly – commenting on a video posted by Tommy Robinson – read “Somalian I guess” and was accompanied by a vomit emoji.
In response to a tweet that said “Islamophobia had no place in society”, Connolly replied: “F*** you, it’s not even a word.”
Connolly also sent a message saying she intended to work her notice period as a babysitter “on the job” despite being deregistered.
Mr Valli added: “She continues to say that if she was caught she would play the mental health card.”
Liam Muir, defending, said Connolly lost a child in horrific circumstances and was distinguished from other offenders who used social media in that she sent the tweet at the heart of the case before any violence against candidates began refuges.
Mr Muir said: “The terrible way she lost her son when she was turned away from the health service can only affect someone badly.
“Whatever her intentions were in posting the offending tweet, it was short-lived, and she did not anticipate the violence that followed, and she quickly tried to undo it.”
Sentencing him, Judge Inman said: “Sadly this is one of a number of cases this court has had to deal with which arose out of civil unrest following the tragic events in Southport on 29 July.
“As everyone knows, some people used that tragedy as an opportunity to spread division and hatred, often using social media, leaving some towns and cities disfigured by mindless violence and racism , intimidation and damage.
“It is a strength of our society that it is diverse and inclusive. There is always a very small minority of people who will seek an excuse to use violence and disorder that causes injury, damage, loss and fear to completely innocent members of the public and sentences are meant for those who incite racial hatred and discord in our society. both punishment and deterrence.”
The Judge said character references from those who knew Connolly “speak of a caring person including those for whom you acted as a babysitter for their children”.
He added: “You have a good family and a young daughter who will no doubt miss you very much.
“Regarding the offence, I am aware of the fact that, although it was widely read, you did not repeat any such statement and deleted it in good time and sent several messages saying that violence was not the answer. “
Judge Inman said that although he accepted that Connolly still feels strongly about the loss of her son several years ago, there was no evidence that any mental disorder had any influence on the commission of the offence.
He said: “Although you may have understood the grief of those who suffered their own tragic loss in Southport, what you sent was not a message of understanding and comfort but incitement to hatred.
“While I accept that you are remorseful for your actions and that I was directed to messages where you say you do not agree with racism and violence, the evidence of your own words in the days following your actions shows what you said with the police. and what you said to the probation officer, that you have little understanding of your actions or your acceptance of them.”
Connolly was ordered to serve 40% of her 31-month prison sentence before being released on licence.
Her husband refused to comment on the sentence as he left Birmingham Crown Court.
