Pastor convicted over John 3:16 preaching in abortion buffer zone as TUV condemns ‘chilling’ ruling

Retired Baptist pastor Clive Johnston

A retired Baptist pastor has been convicted under Northern Ireland’s abortion buffer zone laws after preaching on John 3:16 near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine — prompting fierce criticism from the Traditional Unionist Voice, which described the judgement as a “chilling” attack on freedom of speech and religion.

Pastor Clive Johnston, 78, was found guilty of two charges under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act after holding an open-air church service on the fringes of a designated buffer zone in July last year.

The former President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland now faces a criminal record and £450 in fines following today’s ruling at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court. It is expected he will appeal the conviction.

The case has rapidly become one of the most politically contentious prosecutions under Northern Ireland’s abortion safe access zone legislation, with unionist politicians and Christian groups warning the ruling could have wider implications for religious expression in public spaces.

TUV says ruling is a ‘rolling back of liberties’

TUV leader Jim Allister MP condemned the conviction in strong terms, arguing Pastor Johnston had been prosecuted simply for preaching one of Christianity’s most recognised Bible passages.

“The conviction of retired Baptist Pastor Clive Johnston is a chilling development for freedom of speech and religion,” Mr Allister said.

“Pastor Johnston was simply expounding the most basic of Biblical texts - John 3:16 - which speaks of God’s love for all the world manifested in Jesus Christ, and for that he has been dragged before the courts and convicted.

“This judgement is a significant rolling back of liberties which have long been taken for granted across the UK and represents an assault on basic freedom.”

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston also criticised the judgement and confirmed he had sought leave from the Speaker to raise the issue at Stormont on Monday.

Mr Gaston described John 3:16 as “the cornerstone” of his faith and said he could not remember a time when he had not known the verse.

“To think that an elderly pastor would be convicted for expounding that simple and yet profound truth is outrageous,” he said.

He praised Pastor Johnston for “the grace he has displayed throughout his ordeal” and said MLAs should have an opportunity to debate what he described as a “deeply concerning development”.

Mr Gaston also pointed to the fact the legislation was passed by Stormont rather than Westminster, saying the case reflected “how far our Province has departed from Christian principles”

Conviction linked to open-air service near hospital

The charges stemmed from an open-air Sunday service held on 7 July 2024 near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

The service took place on the opposite side of a dual carriageway from the hospital but within the area covered by one of Northern Ireland’s abortion safe access zones.

Under the legislation, it is a criminal offence within designated buffer zones for individuals to be:

• impeded

• recorded

• influenced

• caused harassment, alarm or distress

Eight safe access zones ranging between 100 and 150 metres were established around hospitals and abortion clinics across Northern Ireland under the Act.

Pastor Johnston was accused of attempting to “influence” people accessing abortion services and of failing to immediately leave the area when requested to do so by police.

However, the case did not involve allegations of harassment, intimidation or obstruction.

It was also not alleged that Pastor Johnston mentioned abortion during the service, nor were there abortion-related placards, banners or protest signs present.

Pastor describes conviction as ‘dark day for Christian freedom’

Speaking after the judgement, Pastor Johnston described the ruling as “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,” he said.

“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.”

The retired pastor insisted he had not engaged in threatening or confrontational behaviour.

“If someone is out there causing trouble, stirring up violence, harassing or verbally attacking people, then, absolutely, go ahead and prosecute them,” he said.

“But I wasn’t doing any of those things as the police video shows and as everyone involved in this case accepts.”

He confirmed discussions would now take place with his legal team regarding the possibility of an appeal.

Christian Institute warns of ‘creeping censorship’

Pastor Johnston has been supported throughout the case by The Christian Institute, which claimed the judgement represented a dangerous expansion of censorship laws.

The organisation’s Director, Ciarán Kelly, accused authorities of using the legislation to criminalise gospel preaching.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

The ruling is likely to intensify debate around the balance between abortion safe access zones and protections for religious expression and free speech in Northern Ireland.