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A retired pastor has been fined £450 after being found guilty of violating abortion buffer zone regulations by delivering a sermon near a hospital. Clive Johnston, aged 77 and residing in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, conducted an open-air service within a safe access zone adjacent to Causeway Hospital on 7 July 2024. The judgement was delivered at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where Johnston was present.
Johnston, the former President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, was convicted of carrying out an act within the safe access zone with the intent or reckless disregard as to whether his actions would influence a protected person entering the premises. Additionally, he was found guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave the zone. The court was informed that on the day of the event, there was at least one protected person attending the hospital.
Judge Peter King stated that Johnston had “tested the law to the point where he broke the law.” The fine of £450 covered both offences. The judge also acknowledged Johnston as “a man of strong religious belief and good character,” noting his past public association with anti-abortion views. At the court hearing, it was revealed that Johnston’s sermon did not mention abortion explicitly. Instead, he aimed to test the legislation and influence listeners towards the Bible and the Christian message more broadly.
Furthermore, the judge pointed out that Johnston knowingly positioned himself within the safe access zone despite being aware of the legal risks and without verifying whether abortion services were being provided on that day. It was confirmed that at least one protected person was accessing therapeutic aftercare related to Northern Trust’s abortion services at the time. The court ultimately decided not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal
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