Foyle general election candidate faced with prison sentence if fine is left unpaid

A candidate in the upcoming Westminster elections has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today in connection with an unpaid fine and has been given an immediate warrant to pay the amount or to go to prison for 14 days.

Anne McCloskey (67) of Chapel Road in Derry is running as an independent in the election in the Foyle constituency. 

She appeared this morning from Coleraine custody on foot of an unpaid fine imposed in 2022 for a breach of Covid regulations. 

District Judge Barney McElholm told the defendant she had an outstanding amount of £255 and nothing had been paid and no arrangements had been entered into. 

He said if McCloskey wanted he was willing to give her time to pay but if not he would impose an immediate warrant with prison in lieu. 

McCloskey asked was the court a court of record and was told it wasn't and she said that then the only witnesses were the judge, her and a police officer. 

The judge said that there was a packed courtroom including the press. 

McCloskey said she was protected by the Geneva Convention and accused Court officials of 'fraud' by entering a plea of not guilty for her in relation to the original offences. 

The defendant went on to say she had been arrested on the foot if 'a fake entity' namely the Director of Public Prosecution who she said 'does not exist in law or statute.' 

As the defendant continued to speak Judge McElholm muted her microphone and said she was talking 'nonsense' . 

He said he had never met the DPP personally but he was pretty sure he existed. 

The judge said he had given McCloskey an opportunity but she had gone off on 'a diatribe'. 

He imposed an immediate warrant which means the fine has to be paid immediately or 14 days in prison.