Back in October 2023, Claire Brennan of Northern Ireland was praying outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine when she was arrested for being inside the building’s buffer zone. Now, she’s fighting the charges in court.
Peacefully praying the rosary, the Lord’s Prayer, and displaying a few signs depicting a pro-life message such as, “Pray to End Abortion,” Brennan and her associate David Hall were approached by two police officers. The officers asked them to move out of the buffer zone and warned them they may be arrested if they did not comply. In the video, one officer accuses Brennan and Hall of “harassing people — we’re getting phone calls — you’re intimidating people by being here who don’t agree with your point of view…”
Brennan responded repeatedly, “I have a duty to uphold God’s law. This is where we pray… We are not committing any offenses… We pray for the babies who will be imminently killed in this hospital.” After more discussion — during which Brennan was accused of being “stubborn,” “ignorant,” and a law-breaker — Brennan and Hall were arrested “without a police interview,” according to Christian Concern.
Now charged with violating the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act which was put in place by the UK government, Brennan and Hall face fines and prison time of up to six months. Teaming up with Christian Legal Centre, the two are pleading not guilty and had their first hearing on July 29th.
Brennan stated, “I believe I have done absolutely nothing wrong. If the courts find that I have and decide to convict me then we are in a very dark place indeed.”
READ: Abortion increased nearly 25% in Northern Ireland last year
Currently the Abortion Services Act allows a buffer zone around all abortion-providing facilities of 100-250 meters, or about 328-820 feet. According to Christian Today, the zones prohibit distributing any literature to persons entering, offering support or assistance, and praying within the zone. This mirrors efforts by various states and municipalities in the U.S. to create buffer zones in order to prevent pro-life speech and outreach to abortion-vulnerable women outside abortion businesses. Though some abortion buffer zones have been struck down, others remain. Many women have stated that they felt coerced or pressured to abort in some way. Receiving information on alternatives to abortion and assistance available to them can make a crucial difference before they make a decision they cannot undo.
Brennan, 52, is just one of many peaceful pro-life activists in the UK facing charges for peacefully praying outside an abortion facility. In December 2023, a UK court ruled that prayer was in violation of a buffer zone in Bournemouth. “We need urgent change to roll back what has happened in this country and to uphold God’s law not man’s law,” Brennan said. “The unborn are the most vulnerable and at risk in our society and we have forgotten our moral duty to do everything we can to protect their lives and to provide vulnerable mothers with alternatives to abortion.”
