£500,000 legal bill for Ashers Bakery ‘same-sex cake’ case

Linda McGookin: Public money wasted. Any wonder our wee country’s in the state it’s in. Ashers were backed all the way by the Christian Institute, but the Equality Commission used the public’s money. I think the public should have a say in future before the Equality Commission wastes any more cash.

Matt Leebody: You’re missing the point. The Equality Commission protects minorities because the majority aren’t doing so. The public will always decide that the issue is too ‘trivial’ to waste money on, as it doesn’t affect them.

Pamela Brown: The LGBT community should have got together and helped fund this case.

Linda McGookin: said, Pamela.

Well

Catherine Millar: The McArthurs were the ones who took it to the Supreme Court. That’s why the bill is so hefty. They originally said they would accept the outcome of the initial hearing.

Matt Leebody: Pamela Brown, the LGBT community don’t have money, because some of our politicians block sources of funding to us. I think the Christian Church has deeper pockets than practically anyone.

Linda McGookin: Catherine Millar, the McArthurs were right to do so, as they had done nothing wrong.

Richie Beattie: This is a story that should not have happened. The public purse is out of pocket by £250,000 because Gareth Lee (activist) thought he would make a point.

Peter McAllister: Treating others as you’d like to be treated is not the point of Christianity. Love your neighbour as yourself is, which is a completely different concept. Nasser Gonzalez: Well, as a member of the public, better to use the money on that than on an MLA’s salary.

Charlie Stewart: How much could this money have helped the health service, or those living on the streets?

Drew Goodall: If Ashers didn’t want his business, he should have gone somewhere else and that would have been the end of the matter.