Abortion buffer zones: Retired pastor to learn fate for open-air sermon near causeway hospital

Pastor Clive Johnston, 78, will be back in court on Thursday 7 May, to learn his fate for preaching the Bible in the vicinity of a general hospital. Last month, a judge at Coleraine Magistrates Court deferred a decision and reserved judgment for two weeks.

• The retired pastor is being prosecuted for preaching the Gospel during an open-air Sunday service in one of Northern Ireland’s controversial abortion ‘Safe Access Zones’ and has been charged with attempting to ‘influence’ anyone seeking to access Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital’s abortion services.

• The prosecution comes despite an absence of banners or placards, and there being no mention of – or allusion to – abortion during his preaching.

• The case has drawn international attention, with the US State Department recently confirming it is closely “monitoring” the “concerning” prosecution of Pastor Johnston.

Mr Johnston, from Strabane, gave evidence before District Judge Peter King in December last year, represented by former Attorney General John Larkin KC.

More than a year after being charged for seeking to ‘influence’ people accessing the hospital’s abortion services and for not immediately leaving the area when asked to do so by police, Mr Johnston was shown police bodycam footage and asked to give his account.

The judge agreed there was little dispute regarding the facts of the case, but requested written submissions to help consider whether what took place amounted to a criminal act under the law.

The judge noted the significant public and press interest in the case.

If convicted, the grandfather of seven – who has never been in trouble with the police – faces a criminal record and potential fines totalling thousands of pounds.

The judge has three options at his disposal: He could acquit Mr Johnston, convict him, or refer the case to a higher court – a signal that there are issues around the human rights compatibility of using the legislation against Mr Johnston in this way.

Ahead of the hearing, Pastor Johnston said:

“I am grateful for the kind messages of support I have received from members of the public both here and abroad, and for the prayers being offered up to God about this case by many Christians.

“My legal representatives have strongly contested the allegations against me and I pray the wider public will understand the implications of this case.”

Legal support

The pastor is being supported in the action by The Christian Institute, which successfully assisted Ashers Baking Co. in its landmark Supreme Court win against the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in the ‘Gay Cake Case’.

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute, said:

“Should a law designed to stop abortion protests be used to criminalise gospel preaching? John 3:16 is a wonderful, famous verse and everyone knows it says nothing about abortion.

“We have amazing freedom in this country to share the Christian message. That’s why we’ve taken on this case. Prosecuting Pastor Johnston for preaching ‘God so loved the world’ near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is a shocking new attempt to restrict freedom of religion and freedom of speech in a part of the world where open-air gospel services are a part of the culture.

“Christians are pro-life. But preaching the good news about Christ is not the same thing as protesting against abortion. The Police and the Public Prosecution Service are overstepping the mark.”

Former Attorney General John Larkin KC, defence barrister Aaron Thompson and solicitor Colin Dougan represented the pastor in court in December.

Mr Johnston’s legal team have indicated to the court that the case raises significant new human rights and devolution issues which may require satellite litigation to resolve.

US State Department monitoring

Asked about the case last month, a US State Department spokesman told The Daily Telegraph:

“The United States is still monitoring many buffer zone cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship throughout Europe.”

“The UK’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin US-UK relations.”

ENDS

NOTE FOR EDITORS

For Guidance:
• Mr Johnston was never arrested. He was simply cautioned on 7 July 2024 and later notified of prosecution by way of a summons.
• The penalty for breaking the law is a fine, not jail.
• He is not accused of harassment or impeding access to a clinic but of intentionally influencing a protected person, or being reckless as to whether his actions had that effect.
• Police bodycam footage from the incident is available here, which can be used in your own coverage (footage available in other formats on request): https://youtu.be/gHrqleYO-b8?si=CExLH8PwsCqwtP13