A retired Strabane pastor is appealing his conviction for breaching protest buffer zone legislation at Coleraine Hospital. Clive Johnston, 78, was convicted in July 2024 of an offence under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023. He is due to appear in the Court of Appeal in Belfast.

Mr Johnston, former president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, maintained during his trial that he was simply preaching a gospel message on a Sunday afternoon and did not mention abortion. However, District Judge Peter King found him guilty.

His lawyers argue that the convictions failed to recognise his human rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The case stems from an incident on 7 July 2024, when Mr Johnston was speaking outside the hospital in Coleraine. The legislation creates safe access zones around abortion clinics and hospitals, prohibiting certain behaviour, including preaching or leafleting, that could influence someone accessing services.

Following the conviction, the PSNI advised that hospital chaplains and clergy now risk criminal charges for routine pastoral activities within buffer zones, in case a chaplain's words might be construed as influencing an unrelated abortion decision. This has raised concerns about the scope of the legislation and its impact on religious expression.

The Court of Appeal is expected to hear arguments on the legality of the buffer zone provisions and whether they disproportionately restrict freedom of religion and expression. The outcome could have implications for clergy and pastoral care in hospital settings across Northern Ireland.