We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE PREACHER WHO found himself at the centre of a controversy last year after making incendiary remarks about Islam has been charged.
After Pastor James McConnell’s sermon was posted on the internet it attracted widespread criticism and led to a police investigation into whether he had incited hatred.
McConnell had described Islam as ‘satanic’, ‘heathen’ and a “doctrine spawn in hell”.
Now, he is set to be prosecuted for the comments, according to The Irish News.
He was questioned last June by police at a station in Antrim.
Apology
McConnell initially stood over his remarks, but later reverted and apologised, saying, “I am saying sorry to those who may have been harmed. Because that was never my intention. My intention was to preach against the Islamic doctrine.”
The comments caused a controversy at the time when Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson weighed in to say that he knew Pastor McConnell and that there was not “an ounce of hatred in his bones”.
Prosecution
According to the Public Prosecution Service he had been offered an informed warning but refused it.
In a statement, they went on to say that seeing as the offer had been refused, the service was now proceeding with a summary prosecution.
McConnell had made his comments at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle mega-church in Belfast, where his sermons regularly attract more than 2,000 people.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
are Muslims charged when they make similar remarks about Jews and Christians.I think not
Paisley used to call Catholics ‘the spawn of Satan’ …..don’t think he was ever charged.
Yes, they are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Islamist_demonstration_outside_the_Embassy_of_Denmark_in_London
Like everyone else, Mohammed was envious of the Jews financial expertise and how they pulltogether and help their own. We could learn a lot from Israel
Kevin.
It was because a Jewish tribe changed sides and turned on him that he hated them and made it an important part of Islam.
Israeli’s are just as crazy as anyone else out there.
There is nothing we can learn from how they run things.
Like taking land that’s not yours
If you ever wish to visit our neighbours in Northern Ireland please watch the Nolan live show first, un f’ing believable
It’s madness. Loyalists haven’t got an ounce of sense. Er fleg!
To be fair Nolan attracts the kind of mutant that goes on Jeremy Kyle. It’s pure entertainment and not intended to represent the people. It’s good for advertising sales though.
I seen an episode were a loyalist randomly shouted down at gerry Kelly to take of his glasses haha. He needs them to see ffs
‘I seen’ should read ‘I saw’ and ‘were’ should read ‘where’. ‘gerry’ should also read ‘Gerry’.
Grammar police alert! I’m not here to be corrected I’m just here to comment mo Chara :)
@tap, mornings teacher tip you must be haven a queit day?
Yes the important issue is whether we use the present perfect tense or the past simple tense.
tap don’t be a tosser.
‘Good for advertising sales’
He works for BBC – no adverts
But he’s all about the ratings Baz. “Biggest show in the country”!
@Tap. You missed of to read off
Is that Donegall you refer to Rod?
Nothing to do with loyalists, like it or not this man believes in what he preaches as do Muslim imans and it looks like its going to get more explosive as most things do in norn iron
Tap Solney. GRAMMER POLICE FUHRER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can he be charged with inciting racial hatred when Islam is a religion not a race or even an ethnicity?
Yep….if you can join and leave it at will then it isn’t a race. Otherwise we’d have great craic: “Mom, I’m off to become an Eskimo”.
I wonder what he is actually being prosecuted for..what is the charge?
Incitement to Hatred Act (1970). Not specific to religion.
He’s not being charged with incitement to RACIAL hatred.
Careful there Fozz, the PC brigade will have you for racism, I believe they are called Inuits…..
they’ve only gone and edited the piece! The initial one I commented on earlier clearly said “racial” I re-read it to make sure. I’m being trolled by the journal.ie
Yep, the article was updated to remove the racist line….makes us look like idiots but I don’t care as I’m in me Igloo.
With Inuits :)
I suggest you read the article again and all will be clear.
Speaking his mind .
It’s a sad day when speaking the truth results in a police charge.
It is a sad day alright. It’s a sad day when we live in a country that has a Blasphemy Law and you can legally be charged €25,000 for uttering something that may be offensive to matters held sacred by a religion. Not even incitement to hatred (we’ve a whole other law for that) but as in the case of Tommy Tiernan, merely parodying an aspect of a religion.
It’s a shame that Asher’s Bakery weren’t protected by this blasphemy law you speak of.
Cop on. They were in the North, the Blasphemy law is in the south. No comments were made regarding their religion, they were held to the same legislative standards regarding discrimination as ALL businesses are.
You shouldn’t get extra rights and the ability to discriminate in blatant violation of the law just because you follow a religion. We don’t live in a Theocracy.
Tommy Tiernan should be charged for crimes against comedy.
@Stephen: Now there’s some legislation I’d wholeheartedly support.
Another new journal spammer
And beards.
Too much time is wasted on religion to be honest… it tends to create more problems between communities than help create a loving caring society it preaches about..
its not a recent phenomenon conor.it’s been happening for thousands of years
sure didn’t the Lord himself pause for a cup of tea up on the cross.
Is anybody allowed express an opinion in Northern Ireland anymore? Bakers forced to cater to customers they wish to refuse, preachers forced to tow the establishment line during sermons; with all this state intervention to enforce particular popular opinions on the populous Northern Ireland must be a very safe and harmonious place.
No , any expression of individuality or intolerance to our new islamic overlords and their leftist minion supporters will not be tolerated .
“Islamic overlords”?
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read in ages. Thanks, I needed a good laugh.
@ Egg Head: It’s a bad time to be a bigot. I bet you wish you were born a hundred years ago. Ah, those were the days. Women couldn’t even vote.
Yes kevin, because everybody who believes in freedom of expression is automatically a bigot, right?
Egg, no not at all. However I believe freedom of expression should be limited to anything that doesn’t damage or harm others. Inciting hatred and violence should be criminalised. Having an opinion on another person, opinion or religion should not.
Causing offence causes no damage or harm to anyone, it only causes offence. Nobody should be shielded from offence by the law. Also, limited expression rights is not freedom of expression, it is censored expression.
I agree that causing offense shouldn’t be criminalized. Encouraging violence against others should.
Ailbhe, how do you quantify your opinion on what causes offence to folk?
Some people are more sensitive and are easily offended than others. I wouldn’t be offended if someone called me a Paddy or a Mick. Why? Because the minute something like that comes out of someones mouth I know immediately that I am better than them.
But some folk would resort to fighting et as it would cause them offence.
What I am saying is what causes offence is not 100% quantifiable as it is not cut and dry. There’s no offence and there’s huge offence. A lamb skipping round a field – no offence ( although some muppet probably would take offence to it!). Huge offence – Charlie Hebdo, Nazi’s, Israel/Palestine. But then you have this massive grey area of offence in the middle based on peoples sensitivities.
Why do I need to quantify offense if I think all forms of offense should not be criminalised? Offense is one thing, convincing others to physically harm people is another. It is the latter that I think should be criminalized.
You just answered my point.
Offense is what people make of it.
Is calling me a Paddy an offense or an incitement of hatred? Not to me it isn’t.
However to Joe down the road it could be deemed an incitement of hatred.
Your sweeping statement is exactly why I questioned it. There’s too much ambiguity for the modern world in it.
No offence :-)
I disagree, offense and incitement to hatred are entirely different. ‘You’re a tool’ – offensive ‘People from xxxxx should all she’s – incitement of hatred See where I’m going with this
she’s meant to read ‘die’
Calling for a group to die is incitement to violence though which is different, and I’d agree is a necessary curtailment of expression. Incitement to hatred and causing offence are hard to distinguish. Is calling a black guy n***** offensive or hateful? Is it okay to just say it to his face because then I’m not inciting anyone? Once you start trying to control people’s expression you enter dangerous territory, particularly when what is prohibited is quite subjective.
Bob on Egg.
I wonder what the Pastor’s views on Roman Catholicism are?
Pretty similar to yours I’d imagine.
Anthony… I assume broad and inclusive…of course, what with him being an upstanding Christian…
Religions teach tolerance, peace and inclusion. Many who represent those religions practice intolerance, violence and exclusion. Why do people still follow these people?
Which makes me wonder why anybody, particularly somebody that isn’t an affluent straight male would ever believe their teachings!
You are so tolerant Ailbhe, how do you do it??
Nice fry up though John
I’m not claiming to be perfect John, far from John. What I am criticising is people who claim to practice a religion but ignore and contradict it’s teachings.
A controversy was caused when he involved himself in the controversy…..that’s controversially controversial.
Another Sky fairy debate.
When the orange order and loyalist paramilitary bands spew out racist and sectarian hate filled vile at interfaces and outside RC churches it’s considered a display of people’s Britishness, a display of heritage and culture.
In all fairness, Satan is the spawn of Judeo-Christianity. They invented Satan.
I love being an atheist
I didn’t know there was a mega-church up north? I expect to see them in America but not here. They sell a lot of CD’s, books and other useless tat, so the pastor can have himself a few houses, fancy cars and maybe even a private jet.
I know there are creationists who think the Earth is 6,000 years old, in Northern Ireland, who wanted to have a creationist explanation for the Giant’s Causeway. T’is a silly place.
Were they charged for discrimination against Satanists? Love how the Satanic Temple (pro secular) in the US are putting up statues of demons everywhere Christian Fundamentalists put up Jesus statues. Perhaps we need a Satanic temple here.
I can only assume that the First Minister, Peter Robinson, will be there to support him as he did previously. Either that or he will be sending Muslims to the shops on errands. ( Remember his imbecile comment?). Pip pip!
We have a society of pussies afraid to say what they feel he did fair play
have your say