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Gay marriage 'Bert and Ernie' cake row to hear ruling of judge in Northern Ireland Gay marriage 'Bert and Ernie' cake bakery found guilty of discrimination in Northern Ireland
(about 2 hours later)
A Christian bakery which refused to bake a pro-gay marriage “Bert and Ernie” cake is set to hear its fate in a landmark discrimination case. A Christian bakery which refused to bake a pro-gay marriage “Bert and Ernie” cake has been found guilty of discrimination in a landmark case.
Ashers Baking Company, which delivers across the UK and Northern Ireland, argued that the cake and its slogan “Support Gay Marriage” went against their “sincerely held” Christian beliefs. Ashers Baking Company, which delivers across the UK and Northern Ireland, had argued that the cake and its slogan “Support Gay Marriage” went against their “sincerely held” Christian beliefs.
The bakery is run by the McArthur family in Belfast, employing 80 staff across nine branches, and has received financial support in its case from the Christian Institute. But giving her ruling at Belfast County Court, district judge Isobel Brownlie said: "The defendants have unlawfully discriminated against the plaintiff on grounds of sexual discrimination.
They say the issue was with the cake, not the person who ordered it. But gay rights activist Gareth Lee, who requested the cake to mark International Day Against Homophobia last May, told Belfast County Court the refusal made him feel like “a lesser person”. "This is direct discrimination for which there can be no justification."
Mr Lee has been strongly backed by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission, which has set aside £40,000 to cover legal costs. Undated file image shows the McArthur family, owners of the Ashers Baking Company which has been found guilty of discrimination (PA) The bakery is run by the McArthur family in Belfast, employing 80 staff across nine branches, and had received financial support in its case from the Christian Institute.
Gay rights activist Gareth Lee at Belfast County Court on 26 March 2015 (PA) The court case heard evidence over three days in March, and District Judge Isobel Brownlie was expected to finally deliver her judgment on Tuesday. They claimed the issue was with the cake, not the person who ordered it.
The high-profile case has divided public opinion in Belfast. As the Republic of Ireland looked set to become the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by public vote, it remains a highly contentious issue in Northern Ireland. But gay rights activist Gareth Lee, who requested the cake to mark International Day Against Homophobia last May, told Belfast County Court the refusal made him feel like “a lesser person”.
Gay rights activist Gareth Lee at Belfast County Court on 26 March 2015 (PA) Mr Lee has been strongly backed by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission, which set aside £40,000 to cover legal costs.
The court case heard evidence over three days in March, and the high-profile case has divided public opinion in Belfast.
As the Republic of Ireland looked set to become the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by public vote, it remains a highly contentious issue in Northern Ireland.
Attempts to legalise gay marriage have been rejected four times by the devolved Assembly at Stormont.Attempts to legalise gay marriage have been rejected four times by the devolved Assembly at Stormont.