Lucy Connolly, a childminder and wife of former Conservative councillor Raymond Connolly, has had her appeal against a 31-month prison sentence for a racially incendiary social media post dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
Connolly had pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred in 2024 after a Facebook post she made following the Southport murders committed by Axel Rudakubana. The post, which was viewed over 310,000 times in just a few hours, called for the mass deportation of migrants and said: “Set fire to all the f**ing hotels full of the b*******.”*
Appeal Rejected by Senior Judges
In a judgment handed down today, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Goss and Mr Justice Sheldon, ruled that there were no arguable grounds for appeal. The panel rejected Connolly’s claim that the sentence was excessive, citing the danger posed by her comments during a volatile situation.
“There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive,” Lord Justice Holroyde stated.
He further noted that the appeal had been based “substantially on a version of events” that the court did not accept.
Sentence and Backlash
Connolly was sentenced by Judge Melbourne Inman KC, who told the court that she had encouraged activity that threatened or endangered life, referencing the real-world tensions at the time. The 31-month prison term sparked political and media controversy, with figures such as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming Connolly was a victim of a politicised justice system.
The Free Speech Union (FSU), led by Lord Young, has supported Connolly throughout her case, arguing that the judge failed to properly consider mitigating circumstances, including the death of her young son and her mental health challenges.
Family Impact and Continued Support
Connolly had also filed a request to be allowed visits with her daughter, which was rejected last month despite her reportedly being an “ideal candidate,” according to prison officials. Her husband, Ray Connolly, said he was “heartbroken” at the dismissal, adding that “the court has shown her no mercy.”
FSU representatives attended the Royal Courts of Justice and reiterated their position that sentencing must remain grounded in law—not public opinion.
