Sinead Quinn

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This fictitious character shouldn't be allowed sharp objects.
I fought the law
and the law won

Pseudolaw
Icon pseudolaw.svg
Traveling
us crazy
Some dare call it
Conspiracy
Icon conspiracy.svg
What THEY don't want
you to know!
Sheeple wakers
Quinn actually believes this means something...
...it doesn't.
I am not breaking the law.
—Sinead Quinn, Owner of Quinn Blakey[1]
Under common law, operating my business is not breaking the law.
—Sinead Quinn, Owner of Quinn Blakey[2]

Sinead Quinn (August 1991–)[3] is a "selfish and irresponsible"[4] hairdresser and owner of the Quinn Blakey hairdressing salon in Oakenshaw, West Yorkshire, who defied COVID-19 lockdown regulations as part of the so-called "Great Reopening" pseudolegal scheme, wasting over fifty hours of Kirklees Council time in the process,[4] and went on to engage in a variety of increasingly bizarre anti-lockdown and conspiracy theorist behaviour as the hairspray withdrawal started getting to her.[5] She was one of a number of business owners and managers who thought they could keep their businesses open by displaying a notice proclaiming their "right to enter into lawful dissent" and declaring the business "under the jurisdiction of common law" based on a misunderstanding of Article 61 of the Magna Carta. Such arguments in modern times are generally restricted to proponents of Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument (OPCA) schemes such as freeman on the land and sovereign citizens.[6] As of last reporting on May 24th, 2022, she owes £8,436 in unpaid court-ordered costs and fines.[7]

Lock it down[edit]

Quinn, by remaining open in November 2020, quickly racked up £17,000 in fines which she did not "consent" to, before the council issued a closure notice and took her to court.[8][9][10][11] Accusing the authorities of "absolute harassment" and "stalking",[12] she released a video of one encounter in which she tells them:

You're speaking to my fictitious character. I am a living woman and I don't consent to any fines. I'm not entering into any contract with you or the police.[2]

Magistrates finally ordered the salon to close "to prevent nuisance to members of the public and to safeguard public health" for the 36 hours until nationwide lockdown restrictions were to be lifted anyway.[13][14] Quinn, who did not attend the court, nonetheless, set up a GoFundMeWikipedia stating:

By no means do I think the council will be successful in trying to extort money from me. I am simply doing this so that people don’t take it upon themselves to create a gofundme on my behalf and possibly run off with the money![15]

She raised over £10,000,[16] but said this would go to her brother, business partner and fellow conspiracy theorist, Stephen's ultimately unsuccessful fight against cancer,[17] and, sure enough, the council had to take further legal action when the fines went unpaid,[18] finally securing a court date for August 2021.[19][20]

The Great Unopening[edit]

A court injunction was taken out in January 2021, adding another £2,455 in court costs to her tally,[21] when Quinn threatened to flout lockdown regulations again the following year as part of "The Great Opening" campaign on social media,[22] and police presence on the day prevented that happening.[23][24] Despite promising "We go again Monday,"[25] she also failed to open the following day.[26] The next the council heard from her, in fact, was an application for a lockdown support grant, which they rejected for, well, obvious reasons.[27] Quinn took to Instagram to air her grievance over the rejection.

Disinfluencer[edit]

Quinn quickly embraced a her new role as an anti-lockdown influencer with 9,000 followers on Instagram, despite the platform having already threatened to suspend her account for "hate speech or symbols".[28] She promoted "The North Unites" anti-lockdown rally,[29] by fearmongering that vaccine shortages would lead to another lockdown.[30] She also posted her attendance at an anti-lockdown protest in London where she bravely fought for our freedom by wandering unmasked through a park,[31] and responding to criticism that she was putting others' lives at risk by not wearing a mask, by refusing to wear a mask on the train journey back.[32]

There was more grievance mongering with a complaint that TV presenter Holly Willoughby was still allowed to get her hair done for "entertaining those brainwashed at home" while Quinn Blakey remained closed.[33] She encouraged her followers to leave their masks at home while rebelliously binning her census form.Wikipedia[34] And claimed that COVID-19 regulations about pub and restaurants only serving outside were ridiculous in bad weather.[35] She went old school with the claim:

If you know that covid restrictions are not the law, then you will know that certain other things are not law either... Like paying TAX. There is no LAW that says you have to pay tax…[36]

She has also bought in to conspiracy theories about how we will be controlled through bank accounts and benefits unless we insist on continuing to use cash.[37]

PPEd off[edit]

Quinn Blakey finally reopened in April 2021, and Quinn celebrated by responding to concerns about her lack of a face mask or PPE from followers who clearly hadn't been paying attention, that:

No, I do not wear a mask. I do not wear any PPE. I do not wear a mask when I go out, in supermarkets — nothing. Because they do not work — do they? Otherwise we would not be in lockdown every few months.[38]

This also gave her the opportunity to angrily call out Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a hypocrite when he appeared unmasked on the local campaign trail.[39]

Court in the act[edit]

The long-awaited court case took place at Kirklees Magistrates' Court without Quinn in attendance, as her unopened summons was returned along with a pseudolegal letter reading:

Notice please find enclosed package returned unseen. The package is not correctly addressed and is not accepted.

It is required that the verified contract signed by us with a verified claim with the name of a man/woman as plaintiff is shown within 7 days of this notice.

We have no legal obligation in this matter until this is shown.

Who is the man/woman who has a claim in this matter? Julie Muscroft? Miss S Qamar?

If a fictional plaintiff continues to act without our consent he/she is liable for all costs in this matter and the same for the harm and loss caused to the woman Sinead.

The woman Sinead does not accept the role of defendant.

No contract.

Non-assumptive.

Witness — Paul

Witness — Sheila

Sinead (fingerprint) — autograph[40]

Quinn was convicted on six counts of breaching COVID-19 regulations and four charges of obstructing a person carrying out their duty. She was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,200, with the £17,000 in fixed penalty notices dropped following the ruling.[41][42] As of last reporting on May 24th, 2022, the fines remain unpaid.[7]

See also[edit]

  • Aron Walton, a tattooist and parlour manager who also cited Magna Carta in defying lockdown.

References[edit]

  1. Defiant hair salon boss refuses to close and says 'I am not breaking the law' by Andrew Robinson (10 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  2. 2.0 2.1 Salon owner facing bigger punishment after opening AGAIN despite £1k fine by Andrew Robinson (11 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  3. Sinead QUINN Companies House
  4. 4.0 4.1 Bradford hairdresser Sinead Quinn's staggering cost to taxpayer throughout Covid-19 pandemic by Kristian Johnson (14 May 2021) Yorkshire Live
  5. Rebel hairdresser Sinead Quinn's most outrageous moments of 2021 from bizarre court letter to Instagram rants by Connor Teale (30 December 2021) Yorkshire Live
  6. Covid lockdown: Why Magna Carta won’t exempt you from the rules by Alistair Coleman (6 March 2021) BBC News
  7. 7.0 7.1 Defiant hairdresser Sinead Quinn still hasn't paid £8,436 lockdown fines handed out nine months ago by Andrew Robinson (24 May 2022) Yorkshire Live
  8. 'Selfish' salon owner hit with another 10k fine - taking total to 27k - after ignoring lockdown rules again by Andrew Robinson (24 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  9. Covid-19: Bradford salon fined £17,000 for lockdown opening (24 November 2020) BBC News
  10. Defiant Bradford hairdresser shut down and handed court date after Kirklees Council lose patience by Nick Lavigueur (25 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  11. Covid-19: Bradford hair salon taken to court over lockdown opening (29 November 2020) BBC News
  12. Bradford salon boss fury at 'police sitting outside waiting for her to break lockdown' by Andrew Robinson (25 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  13. Defiant Bradford hair salon boss who refused to shut in lockdown ordered to close - for just 36 hours by Andrew Robinson (30 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  14. Covid-19: Bradford hair salon ordered to close over lockdown trading (30 November 2020) BBC News
  15. Bradford salon owner who refused to close in lockdown launches fundraiser for legal battle by Ben Abbiss (30 November 2020) Yorkshire Live
  16. Lockdown rebel Sinead Quinn closes crowdfunding page after raising huge sum from supporters by Andrew Robinson (22 June 2021) Yorkshire Live
  17. Sinead Quinn's emotional Christmas tribute to 'best friend' brother who only wanted success for her by Robert Sutcliffe (25 December 2021) Yorkshire Live
  18. Quinn Blakey hairdresser has run out of time to pay £17k fines - and is now facing an even bigger one by Andrew Robinson (7 January 2021) Yorkshire Live
  19. Lockdown-defying hairdresser Sinead Quinn who owes £17,000 in fines gets court date by Tony Earnshaw (20 April 2021) Yorkshire Live
  20. Covid-19: Bradford hairdresser due in court over unpaid fines (21 April 2021) BBC News
  21. Quinn Blakey rebel hairdresser now owes Kirklees Council nearly £20,000 after being told to pay its legal bills by Andrew Robinson (10 February 2021) Yorkshire Live
  22. Bradford salon owner Sinead Quinn is threatening to open on January 30 for 'The Great Opening' by Andrew Robinson (23 January 2021) Yorkshire Live
  23. Great Opening fails at Quinn Blakey Hairdressing after police patrol salon by Charlie Wilson (30 January 2021) Yorkshire Live
  24. Police patrol Quinn Blakey Hairdressing as Great Opening plan fails - everything that happened by Andrew Robinson (31 January 2021) Yorkshire Live
  25. Defiant Quinn Blakey salon owner says 'we go again' after Kirklees warns of arrest threat by Andrew Robinson (1 February 2021) Yorkshire Live
  26. Quinn Blakey salon remains closed despite owner's 'We go again Monday' comment by Ben Abbiss (1 February 2021) Yorkshire Live
  27. Kirklees Council explains why it rejected rebel hairdresser's plea for Covid cash by Andrew Robinson (16 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  28. Bradford hairdresser Sinead Quinn 'threatened with Instagram ban' by Dave Himelfield (13 February 2021) Yorkshire Live
  29. Rebel hairdresser Sinead Quinn urges 9,000 followers to anti-lockdown and vaccine rally by Andrew Robinson (10 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  30. Bradford's Quinn Blakey hairdresser fears fourth lockdown after Instagram rant about vaccine shortages by Megan Shaw (19 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  31. Rebel hairdresser Sinead Quinn travels 200 miles from Bradford to join huge anti-lockdown protest in London by Guy Bell (20 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  32. Hairdresser Sinead Quinn refuses to wear mask on busy train and 'spammed for killing people' hits back by Guy Bell (21 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  33. Rebel Bradford hairdresser hits out at Holly Willoughby and Dancing on Ice over lockdown and 'brainwashed' people by Phoebe Fuller (1 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  34. Rebel Quinn Blakey Bradford hairdresser bins government letter and encourages people to ditch face masks by Megan Shaw (7 March 2021) Yorkshire Live
  35. Rebel Bradford hairdresser Sinead Quinn asks pubs if they will breach 'ridiculous' rules - because it's raining by Dave Himelfield (8 May 2021) Yorkshire Live
  36. Defiant salon raises over £10,000 in crowdfunding appeal - but she hasn't paid Kirklees a penny of her fines or court costs by Andrew Robinson (24 February 2021) Yorkshire Live
  37. Anti-lockdown hairdresser Sinead Quinn warns cash could 'disappear forever' in bizarre Instagram post by Mellissa Dzinzi (6 May 2021) Yorkshire Live
  38. Bradford hairdresser Sinead Quinn boasts of not wearing masks or any PPE at reopened salon by Connor Teale (12 April 2021) Yorkshire Live
  39. Rebel Bradford hairdresser brands Boris Johnson a 'hypocrite' in angry social media rant by Megan Shaw (5 May 2021) Yorkshire Live
  40. The strange letter Sinead Quinn sent to court as she refuses to turn up for hearing over Covid breaches by Andrew Robinson and Ben Abbiss (13 August 2021) Yorkshire Live
  41. Sinead Quinn let off £17,000 fines but ordered to pay £8,436 for breaking lockdown rules at Quinn Blakey salon by Andrew Robinson and Ben Abbiss (13 August 2021) Yorkshire Live
  42. Covid-19: Bradford hairdresser found guilty of lockdown breaches (13 August 2021) BBC News