Campaign update:

Monday 9 June

The Lucy Connolly crowdfunder has hit an incredible milestone with £150,000 raised. This far exceeds the Connollys’ modest expectations and Lucy and Ray send huge thanks to each and every one of you for your immense kindness and generosity. 

Lucy has suffered extremely harsh and unfair punishment for one heated and angry tweet posted on X on the evening of the Southport massacre of little girls. The legal system has shown this bereaved mother no mercy, and has in fact, treated her worse than many hardened criminals. So your support means the world to her. 

So far £80,000 has been sent to the Connollys and this has been used to pay off their debts - which is a huge weight off their mind. Ray has also splashed out on a new dishwasher having done the washing up by hand rather badly for six months!

They also plan to invest in the education of their twelve-year-old daughter, previously a bright, high-achieving student who has been suspended multiple times from school as she struggles to cope with the lack of her Mummy.

Lucy, meanwhile, has had her request for a transfer back to Peterborough jail accepted. It is much nearer for Ray and the family to visit her and Lucy felt well supported there by her fellow prisoners and excellent, sympathetic staff.

Lucy has applied once again for ROTL (right of leave on temporary licence) to which she - as a model prisoner - has been entitled since November. Continued denial of Lucy’s right to see her child and family, while preparing her for release, appears to breach her human rights, and will be the subject of legal action in due course.

There is little doubt that Lucy Connolly is a political prisoner, a fact which shames the UK in 2025.

The roaring success of Lucy’s crowdfunder sends a clear message to a legal system which continues to make an example of a loving and fundamentally decent woman. 

THANK YOU ALL

Tuesday 20 May

Lucy was devastated by today's Court of Appeal decision not to reduce her sentence. She feels it’s because she’s a political prisoner and is yet more proof of Keir Starmer’s two-tier justice. 

However, the support Lucy has received from everyone here has amazed and delighted her. It means the world to Lucy to know that people care about injustice and that this is not who we are as a country.  

Since losing Lucy’s income, the Connolly family have been in dire straits and debts have mounted up. They spent all their savings on legal fees and Ray sold his car and other possession just to keep afloat.

Today £40,000 was transferred to the Connolly’s account as an interim measure. Lucy can now breathe more easily knowing that her family is secure. 

Thank you for your incredible generosity and for the powerful message about free speech that it sends.