General election candidate released from prison

Dr Anne McCloskey was jailed following refusal to pay a fine for breaching Covid-19 regulations in 2022.

A Westminister election candidate jailed after refusing to pay a fine for breaching Covid-19 regulations has been released from custody.

Dr Anne McCloskey, 67, appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court last Wednesday in connection with an unpaid fine of £255.

It was imposed in 2022 for a breach of Coronavirus rules.

She was given an immediate warrant to pay the amount or go to prison for 14 days.

Anti-lockdown rally

After refusing to pay, Dr McCloskey was sent to Hydebank Wood Prison, where she spent two days.

In a statement to BBC News NI on Monday, the Northern Ireland Courts Service (NICS) confirmed that the fine had since been paid and Dr McCloskey had been released from prison on Friday.

The NICS said it was "not in a position to advise who paid the fine".

Dr McCloskey was fined for breaching Covid regulations while speaking at an anti-lockdown rally in November 2020 in Derry.

She had been suspended from practising as a GP for six months from 24 October 2023 over comments about the Covid-19 vaccination.

She had expressed concerns in a social media video about young people taking Covid jabs, in August 2021.

She lost an appeal against that decision in January 2024.

Dr McCloskey, of Chapel Road in Derry, is running as an independent in Foyle in the UK general election.

A full list of all candidates standing in the general election in Northern Ireland can be found here.