A 53-year-old woman from Church Lawton, Cheshire, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after posting a threatening comment on Facebook. Julie Sweeney was convicted for writing that mosques should not be protected and should be “blown up with the adults in it.”
Sweeney pleaded guilty on Wednesday to sending messages on a Facebook group that “threaten death or serious harm.” The comment was made in response to an image showing people of different ethnicities participating in a cleanup effort following violent riots in Southport on July 29. According to prosecutor Sarah Badrawy, one of the 5,100 members of the group became “uneasy” after noticing several harmful comments posted in relation to the unrest.
In her post, Sweeney stated, “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosques. Blow the mosque up with the adults in it.”
Sweeney’s defense attorney, John Keane, emphasized that it was a single comment made on one day. He also noted that Sweeney, who has led a quiet life, has no previous criminal record and has been the primary caregiver for her husband since 2015.
Cheshire Police condemned the behavior, saying, “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. As this case shows, there is nowhere to hide. If you choose to engage in this behavior, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
The prosecution followed a period of violent unrest in cities across England and Northern Ireland, which began after false online claims about the stabbing of three girls in Southport. The rumors suggested the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker, fueling anger among those who erroneously blame immigration for rising crime rates.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to ensure swift justice to deter further violence. Police have warned that arrests related to the unrest may continue for months. Some court sentences, a rare occurrence in the UK, have been televised to increase public awareness of the criminal justice system’s response.
