A former pastor from the U.K. is set to face court charges on Wednesday after preaching a gospel sermon inside an abortion‑buffer zone.
76‑year‑old Clive Johnston is accused of two offenses under Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services Safe Access Zones Act. He allegedly conducted a religious service citing John 3:16 near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine on 7 July 2024, according to a statement issued by The Christian Institute.
Prosecutors say Johnston “influenced a protected person, whether directly or indirectly,” by staging a near‑hospital “protest” during a day of business, a move that violates the 2023 law. They also claim he failed to leave the safe‑access zone when instructed.
The legislation bars “anti‑abortion protests and other behaviors” within a 100‑to‑250‑meter radius of the entrances or exits of any abortion provider.
The Christian Institute, a U.K.‑based religious liberty nonprofit backing Johnston’s legal defence, argues that the law is being misused to criminalise gospel preaching. “Christians are pro‑life. But preaching the good news about Christ is not the same thing as protesting against abortion,” Simon Calvert, deputy director, said. He warned that banning the Gospel in a public setting would set a dangerous precedent.
About a dozen people reportedly gathered for the Sunday service, which took place near a hedge separated from the hospital entrance by a divided highway. If Johnston is convicted, he could face a criminal record and fines that might total thousands of pounds. He is scheduled to appear in Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
In a statement, Johnston expressed gratitude for the supportive messages and prayers he received, saying he looks forward to defending himself in court. At a preliminary hearing in March, he pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to “influence” patients accessing the hospital’s abortion services and for not vacating the area promptly after police asked him to do so.
His defence lawyer, Aaron Thompson, told the court that the buffer‑zone legislation conflicts with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects religious expression and freedom of conscience.
Johnston is not the only Christian facing charges under similar laws in the United Kingdom. In February, 74‑year‑old grandmother Rose Docherty was arrested by Scottish police for offering conversation to women considering abortions within a buffer zone.
Prosecutors dropped the case in August but re‑arrested her in September for a similar incident. According to Alliance Defending Freedom International, Docherty was detained after holding a sign within 200 metres of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” She spent several hours in custody before being released on bail.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has stated that it does not comment on named individuals in criminal cases.
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland told Fox News Digital that it had carefully reviewed the evidence from the police investigation and decided to prosecute Johnston for a single count of allegedly performing an act in a safe‑access zone contrary to the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023 and a second count of failing to comply with a direction under the same Act.
All prosecution decisions are made impartially and independently in line with the Code for Prosecutors, and no further comments will be made until proceedings begin.
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