A 78-year-old retired pastor in Northern Ireland has been convicted and fined after preaching near a hospital in a case involving abortion buffer zone laws.
Clive Johnston was found guilty of “influencing” within a protected buffer zone outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine and fined £450 (about $614). The law restricts certain activities within 100 meters of abortion facilities, including actions deemed to influence or distress individuals accessing services.
Johnston was preaching near the hospital in July 2024 when police warned him he was in a restricted area. He has argued the ruling raises concerns about religious expression and free speech and is considering an appeal.
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