Pastor James McConnell in court today over comments he made about Islam

PASTOR James McConnell is appearing in court this morning over charges relating to comments he made about Islam.

He received a summons to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court for allegedly inciting hatred.

The Public Prosecution Service said the move came after Pastor McConnell refused to accept and informed warning.

The well know preacher arrived at the Laganside court complex surrounded by family and friends.

He told waiting reporters: “It is a nice day for it.”

Pastor McConnell stepped down from his ministry at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast last September citing ill health.

During his sermon at the church last year, Mr McConnell had told his congregation: “Islam is heathen, Islam is satanic, Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell.”

He said he agreed with the late MP Enoch Powell, whose 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech criticised immigration.

“Enoch Powell was a prophet, he called it that blood would flow on the streets and it has happened,” he said.

The evangelical Protestant preacher also compared Muslims to the IRA.

“Fifteen years ago Britain was concerned of IRA cells right throughout the nation,” he said.

“They done a deal with the IRA because they were frightened of being bombed.

“Today a new evil has arisen. There are cells of Muslims right throughout Britain, can I hear an Amen, right throughout Britain, and this nation is going to enter into a great tribulation, a great trial.”

He later apologised but when asked about his remarks regarding radical Islam, Pastor McConnell commented “I still believe that radical Muslim ideology and doctrine poses a huge threat to this country and to the world.

“In support of my stance against radical Islam, I received thousands of emails, cards and hundreds of phone calls and gifts left to the church, from all sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland, all over the UK, western Europe, the US, and indeed some from the middle east.”

Earlier this week the pastor said he was prepared to go to prison for his religious beliefs but vehemently denied that he was a racist.