Woman cleared of breaching abortion clinic buffer zone

The first person to be convicted in Northern Ireland of breaching an abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ has had their conviction overturned. 

Claire Brennan, who’s being supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), was convicted of breaching Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2023 after she spoke to women outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. 

The conviction was overturned during her trial at Coleraine Magistrates Court this week after key charges were dropped, witnesses did not attend, and the remaining evidence was deemed insufficient to sustain a conviction.

In the tip, prosecutors were unable to prove that Mrs Brennan was the person who approached the ultimate complainant.

Responding to the ruling, Mrs Brennan said: “This is a big relief, not only for me, but for everybody who believes that compassion should never be criminalised.

“I actually have at all times acted peacefully, praying, offering hope, and attempting to help women who may feel they don’t have any alternative.

“These censorship zones are unjust. They silence prayer, restrict free speech, and stop women from hearing that there’s another choice besides abortion.”

Her case has drawn further scrutiny of the secure access laws, which critics say are disproportionately targeting Christians and pro-life individuals, and effectively criminalise peaceful expressions of pro-life views and practical offers of help for girls facing crisis pregnancies. 

CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said the collapse of the case against Mrs Brennan “exposes serious flaws within the enforcement of those so-called ‘censorship zones’”.

“These laws are having a chilling effect across Northern Ireland, criminalising peculiar individuals who simply wish to offer women real selection, including alternatives to abortion,” she said. 

“No society committed to freedom can justify punishing prayer or quiet offers of help.”

Her acquittal comes just weeks after Pastor Clive Johnston, 78, was convicted for preaching a sermon on John 3:16 outside the identical hospital. He is considering appealing.