Lucy Connolly’s husband has spoken out after the mother – who published a racist social media post demanding hotels accommodating asylum seekers be torched – walked free yesterday.
Ray Connolly, a former Conservative councillor, addressed his wife’s release from custody, revealing she had managed “relatively well” during her incarceration. However, he confessed: “The only person who hasn’t is our daughter.”
Lucy, 42, was imprisoned after sharing an online message demanding the hotels be burnt down amid the unrest that swept Britain followin the Southport terror attack,
Misleading claims circulated that the perpetrator was a recent arrival when the attack was committed by Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Britain to Rwandan parents, reports The Mirror.
“It will be good to have her home. We are thankful for the support,” Mr Connolly stated, according to The Sun.
“Our focus will be to try to sort out our lives and for my wife to reconnect with our daughter.”
Lucy departed HMP Peterborough, a secure facility for women, in a cab at approximately 10am on Thursday.
He made a sarcastic remark about Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stating: “Well done to Starmer for making it so difficult for a girl of 12. Let’s all give him a pat on the back.”
Former childminder Lucy was spotted dressed in pink as she departed the prison and did not immediately head back to the family’s £400,000 Northampton residence.
She had been incarcerated for just under 12 months following her sentencing last October, though she had already been held on remand for two months prior to her appearance at Birmingham Crown Court.
The mother was released at the standard discharge point after completing approximately 40 per cent of her custodial term.
She will now complete the remainder of her sentence under licence and supervision.
Her social media post from July 2024, published within hours of the savage attacks, declared: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.”
The message was seen by more than 310,000 users within three hours before being removed.
Those opposing her detention argued the penalty for the post was excessive, whilst others have highlighted that she admitted guilt to encouraging racial hatred.
When questioned about the sentencing during Prime Minister’s Questions and whether he considered it an “efficient or fair use” of prison resources, Mr Starmer replied: “Sentencing is a matter for our courts.
“I celebrate the fact that we have independent courts in this country. I am strongly in favour of free speech; we’ve had free speech in this country for a very long time, and we protect it fiercely.
“But I am equally against incitement to violence against other people. I will always support the action taken by our police and courts to keep our streets and people safe.”