Pastor McConnell Not Guilty of 'Grossly Offensive' Remarks About Islam

Evangelical Christian preacher Pastor James McConnell has been found not guilty of 'grossly offensive' remarks about Islam

The 78-year-old, from Shore Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, denied two charges relating to a sermon he gave in a Belfast church in 2014.

A judge said while he considered the remarks offensive, he did not consider them "grossly" offensive under the law.

Supporters of the pastor applauded when the verdict was given.

Speaking outside Belfast Magistrates' court, Mr McConnell said his only regret was the response from the Muslim community that he was "out to hurt them".

Speaking outside court, Mr McConnell said his only regret was the response from the Muslim community that he was 'out to hurt them'

He said: "There was no way I was out to hurt them. I wouldn't hurt a hair on their head.

"But what I am against is their theology and what they believe in."

He said he would do it again, but would be conscious that he was "hurting innocent Muslims".

Mr McConnell had denied two charges - improper use of a public electronic communications network and causing a grossly offensive message to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network.

He made the remarks at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast in May 2014. His sermon was also streamed online

Mr McConnell was speaking at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast

During the trial, Mr McConnell said that he still believed in what he had preached, and did not go into church to "provoke anyone".

A prosecution lawyer had said his words were not "a slip of the tongue", while a defence lawyer said he should not be convicted.

Judge Liam McNally told the court he did think the pastor's passion in preaching meant it "had caused him to lose the run of himself" and advised him to consider the impact of his words in future.

In a statement, the Belfast Islamic Centre said the Muslim community in Northern Ireland believes in the freedom of expression, but added that "insulting other faiths and beliefs" leads to "disunity and mistrust".

It said: "We Muslims are looking forward to achieving and maintaining the values of coexistence and diversity.

"We are mindful of some voices trying to push towards disintegration and isolation of some religious and ethnic minorities.

"Although we disagree with the description of Pastor McConnell's remarks as 'not grossly offensive', we have always been ready to implement the values of forgiveness and pardon as a way forward."

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Sammy Wilson and Catholic priest Fr Patrick McCafferty appeared as character witnesses for Mr McConnell.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, Mr Wilson welcomed the news, saying Mr McConnell "should never have been in court in the first place".

"We live in a free society and in a free society, people should be free to express the beliefs that they hold."

He added that if Mr McConnell had accepted a police caution, it would have introduced "a chill factor" into issues of public speech.

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