Retired Derry GP and General Election candidate who served two days in prison released after patients pay fine
Dr Anne McCloskey was released from Hydebank Wood Prison on Friday afternoon. Picture by Mark Marlow.
FOYLE General Election candidate Dr Anne McCloskey was released from prison on Friday after serving two days of a 14-day sentence.
Dr McCloskey was released after her fine was paid by a number of former patients.
The retired GP (67) appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday following the non-payment of a £255 fine which was imposed in 2022 for a breach of Covid regulations.
From Chapel Road in Derry, she was released from Hydebank Wood Prison on Friday afternoon when her fine was paid by former patients at Shantallow Health Centre.
A former colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, said the patients paid the fine in gratitude for the “decades of care and service” Dr McCloskey had given.
The fine was originally imposed over comments she made at an anti-lockdown rally in the city in 2020.
Dr McCloskey is standing as an independent candidate for the Foyle constituency in next month’s general election.
She also stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for Donegal County Council in the Republic’s local government elections earlier this month.