Retired Pastor CONVICTED after first-of-its-kind abortion buffer zone prosecution for open air church service

District Judge Peter King today (7 May 2026) convicted retired Pastor Clive Johnston, giving him fines totalling £450 for breaching abortion ‘Safe Access Zones’ legislation.

Pastor Johnston was preaching from one of the most well-known Bible verses, John 3:16, in the controversial ‘Safe Access Zone’ outside Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital. He had no banners or placards, and made no mention of – or allusion to – abortion during his preaching.

After hearing the verdict at Coleraine Magistrates Court, Pastor Clive Johnston said:

“This is a dark day for Christian freedom.

“We held a small, open air Sunday service near a hospital.

“We made no reference whatsoever to the issue of abortion.

“And yet the buffer zones law is so broad that holding a Sunday service has been found to be a criminal offence. And at 78 years of age I find myself, for the first time, convicted of a crime.

“I know it was an unusual place to hold an open-air service but that was the point: There shouldn’t be any public spaces in Northern Ireland where you can be prosecuted and convicted simply for preaching the gospel.

“If someone is out there causing trouble, stirring up violence, harassing or verbally attacking people, then, absolutely, go ahead and prosecute them. But I wasn’t doing any of those things as the police video shows and as everyone involved in this case accepts.

“So we are going to go away now and discuss what to do next with our legal team. I am obviously keen to find out what options there might be for me to appeal.

“My wife Sheila and I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have supported us, especially my legal team, and also our brothers and sisters at The Christian Institute whose personal support has been invaluable.”

Pastor Johnston has been supported by The Christian Institute in the legal action. Its Director, Ciarán Kelly, comments:

“Despite assurances to the contrary when this legislation was being considered, we now see that an already controversial and deeply unjust law has now been selectively applied to criminalise gospel preaching. This is creeping censorship. If the ruling stands it will represent a shocking new restriction on freedom of religion and freedom of speech so we will be helping Clive to consider the options for appeal.

Mr Johnston was fined a total of £450.

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

Notes:
Mr Johnston was not arrested. He was simply cautioned on 7 July 2024 and later notified of prosecution by way of a summons.
Mr Johnston was fined a total of £450.
He was 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.
The attached photo from outside Coleraine Court House can be used for your coverage, Credit: The Christian Institute. More photo options available here: https://www.christian.org.uk/johnston-press-resources/