Northern Ireland pro-lifer seeks judge's recusal in buffer zone prayer case

A Northern Ireland woman convicted for praying with in the buffer zone of an abortion facility has asked that a judge hearing her appeal recuse himself due to his pro-abortion ties.

Key Takeaways:

• Claire Brennan was arrested in 2023 for praying within an abortion facility's buffer zone.

• She was convicted in 2024 and is now appealing that conviction.

• She has filed an official request that the judge hearing her case recuse himself due to his pro-abortion activism.

The Backstory:

Claire Brennan was arrested in 2023 for praying the rosary while holding a sign that read, "Pray to End Abortion," outside a Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. A law in place made it a crime to commit any act that police subjectively deemed might "influence" people within 150 meters of an abortion facility.

First arrest and prosecution in Northern Ireland for praying in abortion clinic buffer zone

According to Christian Concern, Brennan is the first person convicted under the country's abortion clinic censorship zone law. She went to court last year, and in December, she was convicted and fined £750.

The Details:

Brennan then launched an appeal against both the conviction and the sentence. Earlier this month, she lodged an official complaint through the offices of the Chief Lady Justice after learning that the judge overseeing her appeal, Deputy County Court Judge Ciarnan Moynagh, was given the "Humanist of the Year" award in 2018 by the pro-abortion group Humanists UK.

According to Christian Concern, Brennan is demanding “the highest level of scrutiny” into Moynagh's ability to justly rule on her appeal without bias. The news outlet explains, "The complaint cites rules stating that judges must recuse themselves if their public activism creates a perception of bias in the eyes of a fair-minded and informed observer."

“A judge must not only be impartial, but also be seen to be impartial. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done,” argued Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing Brennan. 

Brennan herself is calling for scrutiny into Moynagh's abortion connection, saying:

“I was shocked and deeply concerned to learn about Judge Moynagh’s background in abortion activism. Every person deserves a fair trial, especially in a case as sensitive and significant as this.

The public must have confidence that justice is being administered impartially, not influenced by extreme ideological views.

I am calling for the highest level of scrutiny into Judge Moynagh’s involvement in my case. No one should be tried by a judge who has openly campaigned on the very issue at the heart of the proceedings."

In court on September 16, Brennan made a request for Moynagh's recusal, which followed her official complaint. Premier Christian News reports that Moynagh gave her two weeks to submit a formal application for his recusal; he then is expected to rule on the request later this month.

The Bottom Line:

In the press release from Christian Legal Centre, Brennan explained that she is fighting for a fair appeal with the greater goal of bringing awareness to the unjust abortion censorship zones.

"I took a peaceful stand outside Causeway Hospital to pray for the unborn and to defend the freedom of Christians to express their faith in public," she said. "These censorship zones are a dangerous overreach that criminalise compassion and silence prayer."

"I am challenging this law not just for myself," she added, "but for the protection of the unborn and for the future of religious freedom in Northern Ireland."