'Court of appeal in Belfast due to give judgment on 'gay cake row' Court of appeal in Belfast due to give judgment on 'gay cake row'' diff viewer (2/3)

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~~Court of appeal in Belfast due to give judgment on 'gay cake row' Court of appeal in Belfast due to give judgment on 'gay cake row'~~	Court of appeal in Belfast due to give judgment on 'gay cake row'
2016-12-06 03:10:37 UTC	2016-12-06 03:45:15 UTC (35 minutes later)
An appeal judgment will be delivered in a Northern Ireland court on Monday morning over a Belfast bakery that was fined for refusing to make a gay-themed cake.	An appeal judgment will be delivered in a Northern Ireland court on Monday morning over a Belfast bakery that was fined for refusing to make a gay-themed cake.
Ashers Bakery is appealing against a Belfast county court ruling in 2015 that found it guilty of discriminating against a customer on the grounds of sexual orientation.	Ashers Bakery is appealing against a Belfast county court ruling in 2015 that found it guilty of discriminating against a customer on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The firm was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the local gay rights activist Gareth Lee, whose legal action was backed by the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland.	The firm was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the local gay rights activist Gareth Lee, whose legal action was backed by the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland.
Lee had tried to buy a cake depicting the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie below the motto “Support Gay Marriage” for an event to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. When the company refused to bake the cake, Lee sued.	Lee had tried to buy a cake depicting the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie below the motto “Support Gay Marriage” for an event to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. When the company refused to bake the cake, Lee sued.
At the original court case in 2015 Lee said Ashers Bakery’s refusal to take his order made him “feel I’m not worthy, a lesser person and to me that was wrong”.	At the original court case in 2015 Lee said Ashers Bakery’s refusal to take his order made him “feel I’m not worthy, a lesser person and to me that was wrong”.
Lee, a volunteer member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, had ordered the cake for a private function in Bangor, County Down, in May 2014.	Lee, a volunteer member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, had ordered the cake for a private function in Bangor, County Down, in May 2014.
His order came shortly after the Democratic Unionist party used its power of veto in the Northern Ireland assembly to block moves to make gay marriage legal in the province. The region is the only part of the UK where gay marriage is still not recognised in law.	His order came shortly after the Democratic Unionist party used its power of veto in the Northern Ireland assembly to block moves to make gay marriage legal in the province. The region is the only part of the UK where gay marriage is still not recognised in law.
The DUP has a strong base in the province’s Evangelical Christian community and was founded out of the late Dr Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church. The party has consistently blocked proposals in the assembly from other parties including their main partners in government, Sinn Féin, to legalise gay marriage.	The DUP has a strong base in the province’s Evangelical Christian community and was founded out of the late Dr Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church. The party has consistently blocked proposals in the assembly from other parties including their main partners in government, Sinn Féin, to legalise gay marriage.
During a four-day hearing at the court of appeal in Belfast in May, lawyers for the McArthur family, who own Ashers, said they had challenged the finding because in their eyes it would have been sinful for them to complete the order.	During a four-day hearing at the court of appeal in Belfast in May, lawyers for the McArthur family, who own Ashers, said they had challenged the finding because in their eyes it would have been sinful for them to complete the order.
In their legal battle to overturn the ruling the McArthur family have won the support of Northern Ireland’s attorney general, John Larkin QC.	In their legal battle to overturn the ruling the McArthur family have won the support of Northern Ireland’s attorney general, John Larkin QC.
During the hearing Larkin argued in court that the McArthur family was entitled to constitutional protection for turning down a customer’s order based on their personal religious beliefs. He claimed the case against the bakery was one of “coerced expression”.	During the hearing Larkin argued in court that the McArthur family was entitled to constitutional protection for turning down a customer’s order based on their personal religious beliefs. He claimed the case against the bakery was one of “coerced expression”.
He told the court: “The wrong occurs, and can amount to cruelty, to make someone say something fundamentally at variance with their political opinion or religious views.”	He told the court: “The wrong occurs, and can amount to cruelty, to make someone say something fundamentally at variance with their political opinion or religious views.”
The three appeal judges for Monday’s judgment will include Northern Ireland’s lord chief justice, Sir Declan Morgan, and Lord Justices Weatherup and Weir.	The three appeal judges for Monday’s judgment will include Northern Ireland’s lord chief justice, Sir Declan Morgan, and Lord Justices Weatherup and Weir.
Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers Baking Company, and his wife Amy will be present outside the court shortly after 9am on Monday as they attend to hear the judgment delivered.	Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers Baking Company, and his wife Amy will be present outside the court shortly after 9am on Monday as they attend to hear the judgment delivered.
Ashers, which employ 80 staff across nine branches in Northern Ireland, has had its legal fees paid by the Christian Institute.	Ashers, which employ 80 staff across nine branches in Northern Ireland, has had its legal fees paid by the Christian Institute.
At a previous hearing Daniel McArthur explained why his family-run firm turned down Lee’s request for the cake.	At a previous hearing Daniel McArthur explained why his family-run firm turned down Lee’s request for the cake.
“We happily serve everyone but we cannot promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage. We have tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs,” he said.	“We happily serve everyone but we cannot promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage. We have tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs,” he said.