Clive Johnston, a 78-year-old retired pastor, has been convicted and fined for preaching Bible verses near a hospital in Northern Ireland. The conviction stems from Johnston reading biblical passages, including John 3:16, within a designated safe access zone outside the medical facility.

Safe access zones are legally established areas around certain facilities where specific activities may be restricted or prohibited. These zones are typically implemented to ensure unimpeded access to medical services and maintain order around healthcare facilities.

Johnston was found guilty of violating regulations governing activities within the safe access zone. The court imposed a fine as part of his sentence for the conviction.

The case has drawn attention to questions surrounding the balance between maintaining order around healthcare facilities and preserving rights to religious expression and free speech. Johnston has expressed concern that his conviction could establish a precedent affecting similar activities in designated zones.

The conviction represents the enforcement of safe access zone regulations in Northern Ireland, where such zones have been established around certain medical facilities. The specific details of the fine amount and any potential appeals process were not immediately available.