A grandmother who was jailed for making threatening Facebook posts about mosques remains behind bars despite violent protesters from last summer’s Southport riots being released early.
Julie Sweeney, 53, from Cheshire, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after calling for mosques to be “blown up” following riots that erupted after the killing of three young girls in Southport on June 29.
Despite being eligible for release after three months, Sweeney was denied parole due to the threatening nature of her post.
The decision sparked fresh claims of so-called “two-tier justice” as others convicted of racial harassment during the riots have already been freed under Labour’s early release scheme.
Julie Sweeney, 53, from Cheshire, was sentenced to 15 months in prison
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Sweeney’s controversial post came in response to a Facebook image showing white and Asian people helping with clean-up efforts after the Southport disorder.
“Its absolutely ridiculous. Dont protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it,” she wrote in the 5,100-strong Kidsgrove community Facebook group.
When arrested, Sweeney told officers: “Im not being rude, but there are a lot of people saying it.”
She claimed she posted the comment in anger but had “no intention to put people in fear”.
Judge Steven Everett, the recorder of Chester, branded her a “keyboard warrior” and declared that “even people like you need to go to prison”.
David Sweeney, 77, who cares for his wife, has defended her actions, insisting she is not racist and suffered an “emotional breakdown” over the Southport attack.
“Its ridiculous. Alright, she posted what she posted but she had a mental breakdown,” he told The Telegraph.
“Those three girls who were killed, we have three granddaughters and it really got to her.”
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A photo from the summer riots in Southport
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He questioned the fairness of the justice system, adding: “Its two-tier, how do they work this out? The mind just boggles.”
The grandmother had lived a “quiet, sheltered life” before her imprisonment and serves as a full-time carer for her husband.
Philip Hoban, 48, who racially abused pro-Palestinian protesters in Leeds on August 3, was released in November after serving just three months of his eight-month sentence.
Hoban, who mocked Muslim prayers and made slurs referencing Allah, was freed under Labour’s early release scheme despite his conviction for racially aggravated harassment.
Jordan Plain, 30, sentenced to eight months for racially aggravated intentional harassment at the same Leeds demonstration, was also released in November.
Both men benefited from the scheme allowing offenders to be freed after serving 40 per cent of their sentences, aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.
The disparity in treatment has reignited the “two-tier justice” debate that previously drew criticism from figures including Elon Musk.
Sweeney’s denial of release stems from Home Detention Curfew restrictions that bar inmates whose offences include threats to kill.
Other offences making prisoners unsuitable for HDC include homicide, cruelty to children and certain terror offences.
This contrasts with Labour’s early release scheme, which allowed thousands of prisoners to be freed after serving just 40 per cent of their sentences to address prison overcrowding.
Jordan Plain was sentenced to eight months in prison for racially aggravated intentional harassment
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The scheme has particularly benefited those convicted during last summer’s riots, including offenders found guilty of racism and harassment.
The situation has prompted accusations of inconsistency in the justice system’s treatment of different types of offenders.
Toby Young, director of the Free Speech Union, criticised the classification of Sweeney’s offence alongside serious crimes.
“Its ridiculous that Julie has been placed in the same category as prisoners whove been convicted of serious offences, including homicide,” he told The Telegraph.
“It shouldnt include someone whos been found guilty of saying something unsavoury on social media. Do the authorities now consider speech criminals to be as dangerous as the most serious offenders?”
The controversy comes as police have made 1,590 arrests related to the summer riots, with 1,015 charges brought.
As of October, 572 suspects remained on bail, while 216 were still wanted by authorities.
Sweeney will reportedly be eligible for early release in February.
The case continues to draw attention as Axel Rudakubana, the Southport stabbing suspect whose alleged actions sparked the summer unrest, recently entered not guilty pleas.
Rudakubana stands accused of murdering Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The aftermath of the summer riots continues to reverberate through the justice system, with police maintaining active investigations into hundreds of cases.