A cinema in Wales that was ordered to close after breaking Covid-19 rules has been fined £15,000 after flouting the ban to show a conspiracy theory movie.
The Cinema & Co movie house in Swansea was ordered to close in November after owner Anna Redfern, 45, repeatedly breached Welsh Covid regulations by refusing to check vaccination passes.
On Facebook, Ms Redfern stated that the rules were unfair and killing the entertainment sector and promised to take a stand against them. New ‘discriminatory’ and ‘illegal’ measures
Ms. Redfern then breached the order and reopened at the start of December to show the ‘world premiere’ of a film made by conspiracy theorist David Icke’s son Jaymie, the BBC reported.
The film The Good Death presents a number of unverifiable allegations about the NHS, including that NHS staff deliberately killed elderly people.
Ms Redfern was fined £15,000 and handed a 28-day suspended prison sentence on December 14 after admitting contempt of court for failing to comply with the earlier order.
Cinema & Co in Swansea was ordered to close in November after owner Anna Redfern (pictured), 45, breached Covid regulations by refusing to check vaccination passes
Ms Redfern described the film’s content as ‘thought-provoking’, despite it being labeled ‘completely false’ and ‘pernicious by fact-checkers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
She told Icke’s family that she would show her ‘eye-opening film’ and “disseminate true information”.
Defending her decision, she told BBC Wales: ‘Firstly, Cinema & Co does not practise censorship.
“Secondly, in caring for my mom at the end her life, and also reflecting on my mortality, I gave a lot of thought to the idea of a good death and found this film extremely stimulating.
MailOnline has contacted Cinema & Co for further comment.
After the cinema was ordered to close on November 18, Ms Redfern reportedly reopened the venue on December 1 for a festive screening of Santa Claus: The Movie before showing the conspiracy film four nights later.
Ms Redfern then reopened Cinema & Co (pictured) to show the ‘world premiere’ of a film made by conspiracy theorist David Icke’s son Jaymie after the first court order
A Good Death is a movie that makes unfounded accusations against the NHS, including claims that NHS employees were intentionally killing older people. Pictured: Cinema & Co in Swansea
Following week Ms Redfern confessed to being in contempt and said that she would follow the instructions of the local authorities.
Former sports broadcaster David Icke, who claims the Royal family are shape-shifting lizards, was suspended from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in 2020 after posting a series of Covid-19 conspiracy theories.
A former footballer claimed controversially that the virus was linked to 5G’s mobile network, although this is not supported by evidence.
Facebook claimed that his Facebook account had published “health misinformation that could lead to physical harm.”
Speaking about Jaymie Icke’s film, Callum Hunt, head of research at CCDH, described the film as ‘dangerous’ and said it is a ‘fairly typical piece of conspiracy theory propaganda about Covid’.
He stated: “What’s really dangerous about this film that the Icke Brothers have assembled and shown at the cinema in Swansea? It portrays hardworking NHS nurses and doctors as intently setting out to kill patients in order to increase the number of Covid pandemic. This is completely in contradiction to what’s actually happening in the NHS.
Cinema & Co had been ordered to close in November after it announced it would not enforce rules which extended Covid passes in Wales are used to pay for cinemas, theatres, concert halls.
Ms Redfern (pictured) was fined £15,000 and handed a 28-day suspended prison sentence on December 14 after admitting contempt of court for failing to comply with the earlier order
David Icke, a former sports broadcaster was removed from Facebook and Twitter in 2020 for posting conspiracy theories about Covid-19.
According to the cinema, the facility could close for up to 28 days following the initial court order.
Following the closing of her cinema, Ms Redfern spoke out: “I am clearly upset.”
“I am overwhelmed by all the support and help offered to me locally, nationally, and internationally. I do not have anything else to say, however I refuse to be bullied.
In a social media post, Cinema & Co said: ‘Dear Customers. As an independent business, we will not be implementing the nonsensical & unnecessary Covid passports here in Swansea, Wales, as they are unlawful, an infringement of our human rights & discriminate against those exercising their right to bodily autonomy.’
Ms Redfern claimed that there were discriminatory rules in Wales regarding the entertainment industry.
She stated, “If this is where I will die, then I believe this hill is mine.”
“I stand up for the things I believe in. It is unfair by any stretch. The entertainment industry is dying and the hospitality sector is next.
“They keep shifting the goal posts and putting up new obstacles. They have given me a right and privilege to work, which provides food for my family. As a single mom, this is extremely hard.