05 August 2015

'Satanic Islam' sermon preacher: Prosecution is a waste of money

Pastor James McConnell also said he "loved" Muslims but was prepared to go to jail rather than retract the remarks made during a firebrand sermon last year.

The 78-year-old is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

He said: "I think it is a waste of money. A waste of thousands."

The fundamentalist preacher, who retired last year, sparked a public outcry when he said Islam was "heathen" and had been "spawned in hell". The controversial speech was streamed online in May 2014.

Police initially launched a hate crime investigation but prosecutors have taken a case under the 2003 Communications Act. [Belfast Telegraph] Read more