Bakers lose appeal over discrimination ruling

Firm breached equality laws after refusing to bake cake with pro-gay marriage slogan

Christian bakers found to have breached equality laws by refusing to make a pro-gay marriage cake have lost their appeal case.

Court of Appeal judges in Belfast upheld an original judgment which ruled that Ashers Bakery had discriminated against a gay activist for declining his order for a cake bearing the slogan “Support Gay Marriage”.

Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK and Ireland which still prohibits same-sex civil marriage, and LGBT advocates have been involved in a long campaign to demand a change in the law.

While Gareth Lee, whose order was cancelled, welcomed the Court of Appeal decision, Ashers general manager Daniel McArthur expressed his “extreme disappointment”.

“If equality law means people can be punished for politely refusing to support other people’s causes, then equality law needs to change,” he said as he emerged from court surrounded by his family.

“This ruling undermines democratic freedom. It undermines religious freedom. It undermines free speech.”

Mr McArthur said his family would consult their lawyers to see if there was any way to mount another legal challenge.

Mr Lee, whose order for the £36.50 cake in May 2014 was originally accepted but then later declined in a phone call, broke the public silence he has maintained throughout the long court proceedings to welcome the outcome.

“The only thing that I would like to say is I’m relieved and very grateful to the Court of Appeal for the judgment,” he said outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast city centre.

Pictures: PA. Daniel and Amy McArthur of Ashers Baking Company, left, and Gareth Lee speak to the media outside Belfast High Court following the appeal case.