If liberty (however defined) is a highly weighted term in a utility function, or rather in whatever approximation of a utility function people actually use to do consequential reasoning, then we can reconcile a consequentialist worldview with prioritizing it above other values. Generally when people talk about utilitarianism they mean happiness/​suffering utilitarianism, but I can forgive a little imprecision in a news article.
If liberty (however defined) is a highly weighted term in a utility function, or rather in whatever approximation of a utility function people actually use to do consequential reasoning, then we can reconcile a consequentialist worldview with prioritizing it above other values. Generally when people talk about utilitarianism they mean happiness/​suffering utilitarianism, but I can forgive a little imprecision in a news article.