A Christian street preacher has been cleared by a jury at Swindon Crown Court, following charges from remarks made in a public space.
The case raised questions about freedom of speech and the policing of “hate claims".
Shaun O’Sullivan, 36, faced charges of religiously aggravated intentional harassment after being accused of saying: “We love the Jews”, “Jew haters,” and “Palestine lovers” to a group of Muslims in Swindon town centre on 15th September 2024.
The complainants claimed they felt targeted because they were wearing hijabs. During their 999 calls, one said: “We just felt very unsafe, calling us Jew haters, Palestine lovers.”
The case relied heavily on the family’s testimony, but CCTV footage showed a brief encounter with no prolonged confrontation, and witness recollections were inconsistent.
The complainant admitted in court that she had not heard the full message and that her recollection was shaped by her strong views on the Gaza conflict, also acknowledging she was upset because O’Sullivan “spoke directly to us".
O’Sullivan’s defence argued that any remarks were part of a broader message, not personal abuse, and warned that prosecuting public debates risks criminalising protected speech.
Testimony from Dr Martin Parsons emphasised the point that street preaching is historically significant in Britain.
After the verdict, O’Sullivan said: “I was once lost, but Christ changed everything. My heart is to share the good news and love all people. I never intended harm. This case shows how vital it is to protect freedom of speech and Christian freedom.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported O’Sullivan, added: “Shaun’s case highlights the dangers of policing ‘hate incidents’ based on perception alone. We must ensure that robust public debate, especially on matters of Christian faith, is not silenced. He, and other Christian preachers, must have the freedom to do that without fear of being prosecuted and dragged before a judge and jury.”