Ireland is finally safe. Clive Johnston has been convicted and can no longer menace the public.
Johnson, 78, is a retired pastor who committed the heinous offense of preaching near the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. That was considered within the “safe access zone” under Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act.
The Act prohibits “influencing,” “preventing or impeding access,” or “causing harassment, alarm or distress” to a protected person within 100 meters (about 328 feet) of facilities where abortions are performed.
So Johnson was found guilty of “influencing” inside the protected zone and fined 450 pounds (about $614).
Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service told Fox News Digital, “The defendant was found guilty and convicted by the court of doing an act in a safe access zone with the intent of or being reckless as to whether it had the effect of influencing a protected person attending the premises; and failing to comply with a direction to leave a safe access zone.”
The language of the law is absurdly vague and abusively broad. What constitutes an “influence” is undefined and could include any religious, political, or social exchange. Would it include encouragements to have abortions?
It is equally perverse to treat praying or preaching the same as blocking or impeding access to a clinic. Finally, a hospital engages in a wide array of activities that raise religious or political issues that can be the subject of free speech.
We previously saw several cases in the United Kingdom where people were arrested for silently praying near abortion clinics.
For its part, Ireland has been a leader in censorship and the criminalization of speech. As the leader of the Irish Green Party proclaimed, “We are restricting freedom for the public good.”
By the way, his offense was reading John 3:16, including “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What could perish in Ireland and the United Kingdom is free expression as speech regulators target bad influences under time, place, and manner laws.
There were reasons my Anabaptist ancestors left Europe and came to America.
I wonder if they have similar laws, barring jihadist demonstrators from coming within 100 meters of a synagogue? Or how about barring them from burning cathedrals? Nope and don’t hold your breath.
Turley left out an important fact. The retired preacher is a known anti-abortion activist who was using a bullhorn intent in harassing patients. Cops asked him several times to stop using the bullhorn and move outside the zone. He refused. That’s conduct, not speech. He was arrested for his conduct. Not his speech.
The irony of Turley’s omission of facts speaks volumes about his hypocrisy. He’s big on punishing conduct. Not speech. This preacher was arrested because of his conduct.
None of the news accounts of the preaching say anything about using a bullhorn. That would make a difference.
So . . . can you provide evidence of that, or are you just making it up, or perhaps pulling it off some left-wing website with little fidelity to the truth?
I suspect that, true to form, you are spouting lies. That is the only way you cutlish leftists can make a point. Telling lies is what you do here all day every day. I have yet to see you say one true thing.
The court records from Coleraine Magistrates’ Court explicitly state that Clive Johnston was using a standard microphone and loudspeaker setup as part of an open-air church service, accompanied by a large crucifix and hymn singing.
He was using amplified speech. Bullhorn and speaker with a microphone, there’s no difference. He was still using a device to make himself louder.
“Mr Johnston argued that he was not protesting, but holding a religious service. However, the prosecution argued that, in context, the activity amounted to an anti-abortion protest inside a legally protected area. The court heard that he was near a large crucifix, using a microphone, and quoting from the Bible.”
https://humanists.uk/2026/05/11/pastor-fined-for-breaching-northern-ireland-abortion-safe-access-zone/
Potato, potáto.
According to the article you linked:
The court heard that he was near a large crucifix, using a microphone, and quoting from the Bible.
A bullhorn is vastly different. It makes very loud, disruptive sounds. It is typically used in protest demonstrations. You, sir, are a liar, and saying “potato, potáto” will not cover up your guilt.
The prosecution’s case was not based on any BS “bullhorn” garbage but on their argument that he was holding an anti-abortion protest. Re-read the article you linked and you’ll see that’s true. To characterize preaching about God’s love from John 3:16 as an “anti-abortion protest” is patently ridiculous.
This absurd prosecution is a smelly pig, and you’re trying to put lipstick on it. Hint: you’re failing.
It’s an amplification device. Either way it makes no difference whether it was a bullhorn or not.
Amplified speech whether it’s a bullhorn or a microphone and a speaker is still the same offense. You’re just upset that it’s literally not what I said. Bummer for you.
At this point it’s just sealioning. Aplifying one’s speech a little is different than a bullhorn. Even when you’re caught with your pants down, you never admit maybe you misspoke. That’s what marks you out as a troll rather than a good-faith commenter.
X, as prosecutor: Your honor, the defendant was doing 175 miles per hour in his Mazerati in a 55 zone.
Defendant: Your honor, I was doing 55 mph in my Ford Escort.
X, as prosecutor: Your honor, okay, maybe he’s right, but his point is irrelevant. A Ford Escort and a Mazerati are both motor vehicles, and they both move along the road. Potato, potáto. Therefore, the defendant is guilty doing 175 in his Mazerati.
Satanism is normalized. Steven Hawking Physicist said mankind would not last a hundred years.
Steve is dead.
He was on a patch of grass across the street from the hospital, delivering a sermon that had nothing at all to do with abortion, pro-life, or pro-choice. It only pertained to “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son . . .” He was not impeding anyone’s entrance or exit from the hospital. Do abortion-minded women and the UK government now really consider that harrassment? Wow.
This brings to mind another saying in the New Testament, also quoting Jesus: “Blessed are you when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice in that day and be exceedingly glad, because your reward in heavin is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets.” I have little doubt Mr. Johnston is quite familiar with that verse, and so even though his legal team is going to appeal, he must realize that he is blessed.
P.S. I know someone pointed this out below, but the article’s references to Ireland are in error. This took place in Northern Ireland, a different country from Ireland.
Under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023, a person does not need to engage in “harassment, alarm, or distress” to break the law. The statute explicitly makes it an offense to do an act within the 100-meter zone with the intent—or being reckless as to whether it has the effect—of “influencing” a protected person.
The prosecution did not have to prove Mr. Johnston was harassing anyone. They only had to prove he was intentionally or recklessly attempting to influence the minds or emotional states of patients or staff entering a medical facility.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, Mr. Johnston was not instantly arrested for speaking. He was first given a direction by police officers to leave the designated safe access zone.
He was ultimately convicted of two specific things: doing an act with the intent/recklessness of influencing a protected person, and failing to comply with a lawful police direction to leave the zone. Choosing to remain inside a legally restricted zone after being ordered out by law enforcement shifts the issue from pure religious speech to a refusal to comply with public order laws.
The law does not ban Mr. Johnston from preaching his sermon, reading John 3:16, or expressing his religious beliefs. It only bans him from doing so within a specific 328-foot radius of an abortion clinic.
influence the minds or emotional states of patients
It is a particularly sad day for freedom when “recklessly infulencing someone’s emotional state” is a criminal offense. That would include “recklessly” cheering them up, for example, by telling them about how much God loved the world and how they can have everlasting life. How absurd.
He was first given a direction by police officers to leave the designated safe access zone.
That makes no difference legally. If he was not committing a crime, the police orders were invalid. If the police tell me to leave my house for no valid reason, and I refuse, then they arrest me for refusing their directive, does that make me guilty just because they told me to leave my own home before arresting me? No.
Choosing to remain inside a legally restricted zone after being ordered out by law enforcement shifts the issue from pure religious speech to a refusal to comply with public order laws
It was only “legally restricted” in the sense that people were not allowed to “recklessly influence someone’s emotional state” in that area. It wasn’t “legally restricted” for people to talk about their favorite coffee, or their plans for Aunt Martha’s birthday. This brings us back to your first point, that he was recklessly trying to cheer people up by telling them of God’s love.
You title yourself “Esquire” but your comment does not reveal an ability to think legally. I call BS on your “esquire.”
How sad, one of the most loving and truth verses in all sixty-six books of GOD’s word. It will be a very sad day at The Great White Throne Judgement for many! Pastor Clive Johnston’s reward will be great in Heaven!
what a great day that will be. soaked in that blood that came pouring out of his wrists, feet, back, face and skull. no forgiveness without it.
his visage was marred more than any man’s. they who gazed upon him were sickened. tell us big boy, who just punched you in the face? who plucked out your beard, SON OF GOD? HOT SHOT! come on down, fool on the hill. kinda stuck up there, ain’t cha?
and the sky turned black as a storm kicked in and them boys got sceered. hey, fellas, he twere the son of god, after-all
Northern Ireland birth rate is 1.71 and is probably on a downward trend. Just to maintain a steady population it should be 2.1. Won’t be long before abortions will be considered in a completely different light especially when you factor in migrants who have no intention on assimilation
Congress isn’t going to remove judges. They don’t want the most powerful mafia bosses turning loose on their corrupt money making schemes, isn’t that right Nancy?