A JUDGE has rejected an application to abort the trial of an evangelical preacher accused of insulting Islam.
Pastor James McConnell has been charged in connection with a controversial speech made from the pulpit of his Whitewell Tabernacle in north Belfast last May.
McConnell, 78, from Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, is being prosecuted at Belfast Magistrates' Court under the 2003 Communications Act.
District Judge Liam McNally said he was not convinced by defence arguments that there were no circumstances under which the preacher could be convicted.
The judge said: "I reject the defence application and I hold that Pastor McConnell does have a case to answer in relation to the charges against him."
The application to halt proceedings was made on the second day of the high-profile trial.
McConnell is facing 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 - after the remarks were streamed online. He denies both charges.
The case is due to conclude on Wednesday.
Earlier, defence barrister Philip Mateer QC argued that McConnell could not be held accountable for the actions of "mad men" who smash windows in Belfast or who murder on the streets of Paris.
He said: "Freedom of speech is an important principle in our society and we are entitled to manifest our religious belief, be that Christian, Muslim, Jew, atheist or whatever."
On Monday the court was shown an hour-long DVD recording of the service during which the controversial sermon was made.
In it McConnell told his congregation of up to 2,000 people and 700 viewing on the internet: "Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic. Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell."
The judge also heard television and radio broadcasts in which McConnell defended his remarks.
Mr Mateer told the court: "He is not stereotyping a whole religion, he is talking about cells of people.
"If the pastor was more astute to the watery words to be used to weave our way through difficult areas... it would have put it beyond doubt if he had said there are 'cells' of jihadists. It would have put it beyond doubt if he said 'cells' of Islamists."
Throughout the proceedings McConnell, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and blue polka-dot tie, sat listening intently beside family members including his wife Margaret.
The public gallery was again packed to capacity and outside some born-again Christians displayed banners pledging support for the pastor, but the turnout was significantly lower than previous hearings.
David Russell, for the Public Prosecution Service, said the case centred on whether a reasonable member of society could find the words offensive.
He said: "It is not whether he has caused gross offence to a member of the community at which it was aimed but whether a reasonable member of society judges that it would cause gross offence."
The prosecutor added: "It seems to me these comments fall clearly in line with being capable of being grossly offensive."
