Former Irish Baptist President to hear if he will be convicted of breaching abortion buffer zone
A former president of Irish Baptist churches will find out tomorrow if he is to be found guilty of breaching the abortion protest buffer zone at Coleraine Hospital.
Retired Strabane Pastor Clive Johnston, 77, is accused of breaching abortion protest buffer zone legislation at Coleraine Hospital on 7 July 2024.
The former President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland faces two charges under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act after holding an open-air service opposite the hospital.
Mr Johnston argues that he only preached a simple gospel message and did not mention abortion at any time. He previously told the court that his intention was to “test” the law – not to break it.
However the prosecution case is that his purpose was not to conduct a religious service but rather that his message was a “pro-life, anti abortion one."
The grandfather-of-seven is also charged with failing to comply with a police direction to leave the protest buffer zone.
He will hear the outcome of his case at Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine.
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.”
If convicted he faces a fine, but not jail.
Reserving his judgement in April, Judge Peter King said he was “incredibly indebted” to the legal teams for their approach to the case, adding that “I don't think it would be fair to Mr Johnston, or to be respectful to either of the legal teams in this case, if I were to extemporise today.”
Commenting on his case and other similar ones recently, the US state department said: “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.”