A 78-year-old retired pastor is appealing his conviction for preaching a Bible verse near a hospital in Northern Ireland.

Clive Johnston was fined £450 after being found guilty under abortion Safe Access Zones legislation.

His appeal is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal in Belfast on 15th October.

The case relates to an open-air Sunday service near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine in July 2024, where Johnston preached from John 3:16, beginning: “For God so loved the world...”.

The Christian Institute, which is supporting his appeal, says the sermon did not mention abortion. Johnston was not accused of harassment, intimidation or obstructing access to a clinic.

Johnston said: “At 78 years of age I find myself, for the first time, convicted of a crime.”

He added: “I believe there shouldn’t be any public spaces in Northern Ireland where you can be prosecuted and convicted simply for preaching the gospel.”

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

Ciarán Kelly, director of The Christian Institute, said the case raised “fundamental questions about freedom of religion and freedom of speech in Northern Ireland”.