Lucy Connolly has hit out after “shocking” new evidence emerged from Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) files, which she says shows her case was treated with the same urgency as a high-level terror investigation to prevent her from securing a fair trial.
In an interview with Patrick Christys, the mother turned “free speech” symbol described how she spent months being told her files were “lost or destroyed” before finally obtaining them via a Subject Access Request.
The documents, she says, confirm a coordinated effort between the police, the CPS, and the Attorney General to rush her into a jail cell within 24 hours.
Ms Connolly, who served time for a social media post following the Southport tragedy, told GB News that the trail of emails shows her prosecution was signed off by the CPS Counter-Terrorism division and the Attorney General at breakneck speed.
She said: “My charge went to an emergency fast-track charge.
“I was charged around 9pm on a Friday evening. By 9.30 the following morning, my prosecution had been signed off.
“I was put in front of a magistrates’ court by 10:30 a.m. It just blows your mind.”
She argued that this “emergency” status was a calculated move to deny her the right to think rationally or find adequate representation.
Lucy Connolly shared that her case had been ‘fast tracked’
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GB NEWS
She explained: “It completely prevents you from seeking proper legal advice and undermines your right to a fair trial.
“As my barrister put it, it’s like dragging someone off their sofa, locking them up, charging them and remanding them all within 24 hours.
You’re not thinking clearly. You’re not thinking rationally or intelligently.
“You’re effectively forced to rely on duty solicitors because where are you supposed to find a recommended criminal barrister between 9pm on a Friday and 9.30 the next morning? It just isn’t possible.”
Lucy Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court for inciting racial hatred against asylum seekers on Twitter on the day of the Southport attacks | PA
Patrick said: ” There’s a comparison here with Labour councillor Ricky Jones, who was later found not guilty by a jury.
“He had months between the incident and going to court, giving him time to secure strong legal representation. You weren’t afforded that, were you? Do you believe that difference was political?”
Ms Connolly responded: “One hundred per cent. The intention was to stop me seeking good legal advice, to put me on the back foot and to panic me.
“I never had the chance to sit down with a proper legal team and discuss my options.”
“I was remanded immediately. I applied for bail twice both applications were refused without proper justification. Legally, I should have been granted bail.
“The documents also show that my second bail hearing lasted just two minutes. Court logs record it starting at 11:17 and ending at 11:19. In two minutes, you barely have time to confirm someone’s name, address and date of birth let alone argue a bail application.
“Either my solicitor wasn’t allowed to make submissions, or he was shut down. There are so many aspects of this in the documents that are genuinely mind-blowing.”