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| Amnesty International warn of gay marriage legal challenge | Amnesty International warn of gay marriage legal challenge |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Amnesty International has warned of a likely legal challenge if Northern Ireland is left as the only part of the UK without marriage rights for same-sex couples. | Amnesty International has warned of a likely legal challenge if Northern Ireland is left as the only part of the UK without marriage rights for same-sex couples. |
| A debate about the issue is due to take place at Stormont on Monday. | |
| The DUP has tabled a Petition of Concern ensuring that the motion would need to command a cross-community majority to succeed. | The DUP has tabled a Petition of Concern ensuring that the motion would need to command a cross-community majority to succeed. |
| A similar motion was defeated by the assembly last October. | A similar motion was defeated by the assembly last October. |
| Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland programme director, said: "States may not discriminate with regards to the right to marry and found a family, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. | Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland programme director, said: "States may not discriminate with regards to the right to marry and found a family, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. |
| "That obligation is clear in international law. This means that marriage should be available to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland just as it appears it soon will be in other parts of the UK. | "That obligation is clear in international law. This means that marriage should be available to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland just as it appears it soon will be in other parts of the UK. |
| "Should politicians fail to act, there could be a straightforward legal challenge on the basis of inferior treatment of same-sex couples in Northern Ireland with regards to the right to marry and found a family." | "Should politicians fail to act, there could be a straightforward legal challenge on the basis of inferior treatment of same-sex couples in Northern Ireland with regards to the right to marry and found a family." |
| Mr Corrigan believes such a legal challenge seems likely and would appear to have strong grounds for success. | Mr Corrigan believes such a legal challenge seems likely and would appear to have strong grounds for success. |
| DUP Chief Whip Peter Weir confirmed the party has tabled a Petition of Concern on the motion which has been tabled by Sinn Fein. | DUP Chief Whip Peter Weir confirmed the party has tabled a Petition of Concern on the motion which has been tabled by Sinn Fein. |
| Mr Weir said: "It is only a few months since the assembly last debated this issue and views were clearly expressed at that time. | Mr Weir said: "It is only a few months since the assembly last debated this issue and views were clearly expressed at that time. |
| "It has been made very clear that same-sex marriage will not be introduced in Northern Ireland and the DUP is tabling a Petition of Concern to ensure that this motion will not be carried." | "It has been made very clear that same-sex marriage will not be introduced in Northern Ireland and the DUP is tabling a Petition of Concern to ensure that this motion will not be carried." |