A Northern Ireland court has thrown out a case against a mother of four accused of breaching abortion safe zone legislation after two of the prosecution’s witnesses failed to appear in court. Brennan was charged under Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2023 after “peacefully praying and offering support” outside the hospital, according to a statement from the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting Brennan’s case.
The prosecution had hoped to use security camera footage and testimony from three witnesses as part of its case. But when two of them failed to appear, the court ruled that prosecutors were unable to prove that Claire Brennan was the person who approached the complainant outside Causeway Hospital in County Derry.
Brennan expressed relief after the case collapsed, calling the zones “unjust” and saying they silence prayer and restrict free speech. “I have always acted peacefully, praying, offering hope, and trying to help women who may feel they have no alternative”, she said in a 21 May statement.
“These censorship zones are unjust. They silence prayer, restrict free speech, and prevent women from hearing that there is another option besides abortion.”
Arrested for "Praying Peacefully"
Brennan was accused of “influencing” individuals and praying within a 150-meter “safe access zone” around the hospital in three alleged incidents in September, October and November 2025.
In responding to the allegations, Brennan’s defense relied in part on protections under Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, relating to freedom of thought, religion, and expression.
Her defense maintained that “peaceful prayer, consensual conversation, and offering a religious token fall squarely within protected rights, and do not meet the legal threshold of harassment, alarm, or distress”, a spokesperson for the CLC stated.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the CLC, said the collapse of the case exposes “serious flaws” in the enforcement of what she describes as “censorship zones”.
“Claire Brennan was engaged in peaceful, compassionate activity, praying and offering support. Yet she faced criminal prosecution for living out her Christian faith”, Williams said, adding that no society committed to freedom could justify punishing prayer or quiet offers of help.
Brennan is still involved in a separate case relating to the safe zones legislation. She is appealing against a conviction for saying The Lord’s Prayer and holding a sign against abortion outside the same hospital. The case made headlines previously following an “unprecedented” recusal by County Court Judge Ciaran Moynagh, after concerns were raised about perceived bias due to his previous activism on abortion issues.
Abortion Safe Zone Convictions Rising
Brennan’s case is the latest in a growing number of cases under abortion safe zone legislation, with Pastor Clive Johnson recently convicted for leading a Sunday service outside Causeway Hospital.
The 78-year-old retired pastor described the ruling as a “dark day” for freedom of speech and religion.
Safe zone legislation has been introduced across the British Isles and Ireland, with a number of cases brought before courts in Scotland, England and NI.
In April, a 75-year-old Scottish grandmother was cleared of wrongdoing after a local court dismissed two criminal charges accusing Rose Docherty of “influencing” women in a safe access zone.
On 27 April, Sheriff Stuart Reid dismissed the charges, ruling that they violated her Article 10 ECHR right to freedom of expression. The public prosecutor declined to appeal the ruling and is now out of time to do so.
Docherty is now considering all options to prevent a recurrence of her arrest and treatment, including legal action against the police, according to a statement from Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF).