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Susan Doherty's avatar

Brilliant article ,Dusty. I had tears in my eyes reading Lucy's story and I feel incandescent with rage at this government and our so called "justice" system which seeks to ruin a young mother ( and her family's ) lives to" make an example" of her. This is pure VENOM and I never thought I would ever see anything like this in the UK. It's Banana Republic politics and has no place here. Starmer and his mouthpiece judge should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and we won't forget this total travesty of justice !!. I will be praying for Lucy's success in the appeal process and I hope that the appeal court shows more compassion and humanity towards this young woman than has been shown to her so far.Well done to Allison for telling Lucy's story and thanks ,Dusty, for posting it .🙏🙏🙏

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

Thank you, Susan and yes, brilliant article by Allison Pearson. Here's hoping re the Appeal Court!!!

Dusty

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Becca Shambles's avatar

Very powerful piece, Dusty. Thank you for sharing the truth about Lucy’s story. It’s a worrying time for free speech. I can only hope Lucy finally gets a fair hearing in May.

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

Thanks, Becca. Here's hoping!

Dusty

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Tenaciously Terfin's avatar

Superb, brilliant piece Dusty. Bravo. Thank you for writing it and for making it available for everyone. Lucy Connolly’s story is particularly heartbreaking and well done to Allison for writing it. I knew something of the background but the full details are terrible. If Lucy isn’t the perfect example of two tier justice, I don’t know what is. Starmer should be charged with inciting violence against her and others as his words after the riots created the situation for so many arrests to take place. And all the people baying for cancellations in the name of ‘kindness’ would do well to look in the mirror occasionally. As for the judges involved………We are in a very dark place when we can’t even trust our justice system to be fair and impartial.

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

Thanks, TT. Yes we are in a dark place! 30 arrests a week!! Let's hope the Court of Appeal can restore some sanity! Some version of the Brandenburg test really is required! I would be tempted to go down and watch it but I probably wouldn't get in the court room!!

Dusty

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

To expand on that, the appeal is against the sentence since Lucy pleaded guilty since she was remanded in custody, but I hope her lawyers will feel able to go back and question whether there was really any offence in the first place.

Dusty

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

In any democracy there should be separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

Starmer's 'direction' to the judiciary breached that separation.

The judges ( apparently) following that 'direction' further breached the separation.

In this instance the democratic process collapses!

That's my opinion anyway!

Dusty

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Tenaciously Terfin's avatar

Hear hear Dusty. I completely agree.

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Dusty Masterson's avatar

Thanks, TT 😊

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