Lucy Connolly, 42, who was sentenced to over two years in prison after posting a highly inflammatory tweet during the Southport riots last summer, has been refused temporary release to visit her seriously ill husband — and her pleas to spend time with her struggling daughter have also been turned down.
Connolly, a childminder from Northampton, posted the tweet in July 2023 at the height of nationwide unrest following false claims that an illegal immigrant was behind the tragic killing of three children at a dance class. Her now-deleted tweet, which was widely shared online, called for “mass deportation” and suggested setting fire to hotels housing migrants. She was arrested days later, charged with inciting racial hatred, and sentenced in October after pleading guilty.
Since November, Connolly has technically been eligible for a scheme that allows certain prisoners short periods of release to rebuild family ties. But her requests have reportedly been denied, despite her husband Ray suffering from bone marrow failure and her 12-year-old daughter exhibiting concerning changes in behaviour at school, reported the Express.
According to reports, the decision wasn’t due to her failing to meet eligibility requirements but rather linked to the public and media attention surrounding her case. Internal documents from her previous prison, HMP Peterborough, noted the “media interest has been raised as an issue” when considering her for temporary release.
The Ministry of Justice insists her application is still under consideration at her new prison, HMP Drake Hall. A spokesperson said: “Decisions on release on temporary licence… are made following uncompromising risk assessments to prioritise public safety.”
Former prison governor Ian Acheson has criticised the handling of her case, calling the apparent delay “concerning”. He argued that Connolly, who has reportedly maintained good behaviour and qualified for an enhanced regime behind bars, should not be overlooked simply due to the publicity. “It would be perfectly possible for prison authorities to set conditions that preclude any media exposure,” he said.
Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, has also weighed in, calling her detention “a case of two-tier justice”, while violent offenders walk free.
Connolly is now preparing to appeal her sentence at a hearing on May 15. Her legal team is expected to argue that the offence was wrongly treated as intending to incite serious violence — a classification that pushed the sentence over two years and ruled out a suspended term. Her barrister will also raise her clean record and strong character references in her defence.
