Retired Pastor Convicted Over Sermon Inside Abortion ‘Buffer Zone’

A retired pastor was convicted on May 7 of breaching Northern Ireland’s abortion buffer zone law after preaching an open-air sermon that he said made no reference to abortion.

Clive Johnston was preaching from a well-known Bible verse, John 3:16, in a “Safe Access Zone” outside Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital in Northern Ireland on July 7, 2024.

Police accused him of breaching an abortion “buffer zone” because of his location, an area 150 meters (492 feet) around hospitals that criminalizes “influencing” someone’s decision about getting an abortion.

Supporters say that the trial marked the “first of its kind in the UK.”

Footage from police recorded an officer saying to Johnston that “you could say to yourself, [from] goodness in my heart, ‘I am coming here to preach the Word of God.’ However, if you are reckless as to the effect that that could have on patients, staff, or any protected person, then you may be committing an offence.”

“Safe Access Zones” were introduced at health service locations providing abortion across Northern Ireland from Sept. 29, 2023.

There are five of these zones in Northern Ireland.

The law makes it illegal for women “to be impeded, recorded, influenced or to be caused harassment, alarm or distress” within between 100 and 250 meters (328 and 820 feet) from entrances or exits of abortion clinics.

It also is illegal to “directly or indirectly influence” a “protected person” in their decision to attend an abortion clinic or “prevent or impede their access.”

The U.S. State Department issued a statement ahead of the trial to the Telegraph on April 16 that 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,” it said.

Johnston has been supported by The Christian Institute in the legal action.

Its director, Ciarán Kelly, in a press release on May 7 said that “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,” he added. “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.”

After hearing the verdict at Coleraine Magistrates Court, Johnston said it was “a dark day for Christian freedom.”

Johnston said he and others “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,” he said.

“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.”

Johnston said he would discuss next steps with his legal team, and he said he’s eager to find out options available to him for appealing the decision.

Since 2024, buffer zones around abortion clinics have come into force in England and Wales, with anyone found in breach of the law facing unlimited fines.

The relevant legislation for buffer zones in England and Wales is covered under the Public Order Act 2023; the measures were voted in under a Conservative government with cross-party support.

Rose Docherty, 75, became the first person charged under Scotland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, after holding up a placard in Glasgow last September that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”

A judge dismissed criminal charges against Docherty in April 26, who was supported by the legal advocacy organization ADF International, which coordinated her defense.