![]() The judge has upheld it - that both under sexual orientation regulations, political and religious opinion, that there were discriminatory acts."Īshers owner Daniel McArthur said he was extremely disappointed. He added: "We started off by saying that we believed that there had been a discriminatory act. "This actually vindicates the reason for an organisation like the Equality Commission to be in existence." "The judge did say she respected the strongly held faith of those who work for Ashers but she said when she was applying the fair balance here it was clear, looking at case law, that the current anti-discrimination law provides that fair balance. It says to people who take part in commercial enterprises that they must act within the anti-discrimination framework. Mr Wardlow said: "It sends out the signal confirming the law as we understood it. Ordering the company to pay damages of £500, District Judge Isobel Brownlie said religious beliefs could not dictate the law. We are here to help people who could not otherwise help themselves."Ī judge at Belfast County Court found that Ashers Baking Company acted unlawfully by declining the request from gay rights activist Gareth Lee last year. Mr Wardlow said: "We want to act with generosity because this is the reason we are here. The Christian owners of the bakery were found to have discriminated against a gay man when they refused to make a cake carrying a slogan that promoted same-sex marriage.
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