The Christian bakers who refused to create a cake with a slogan in support of same-sex marriage will hear the result of their appeal against their conviction on Monday.
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) brought an action against Belfast-based Ashers Baking Company after it refused to fulfil an order by a gay rights activist, Gareth Lee, asking for a £36.50 cake featuring the Sesame Street puppets, Bert and Ernie, with the campaign slogan "Support Gay Marriage".
ECNI argued the company's actions violated equality laws in Northern Ireland and alleged discrimination under two anti-discrimination statutes. Finding Ashers guilty in May last year, Judge Isobel Brownlie said: "The defendants are not a religious organisation. They conduct a business for profit. I believe the defendants did have the knowledge that the plaintiff was gay.
"As much as I acknowledge their religious beliefs this is a business to provide service to all. The law says they must do that."
The case reflected a complex balancing of rights, with one side arguing for freedom to express a religious belief and the other for freedom from discrimination. Among Ashers unlikely supporters was gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, while the original appeal hearing was postponed because of last-minute fears raised by John Larkin QC, Attorney General in Northern Ireland, about a potential conflict between the region's equality legislation and European human rights laws.
Ashers is being supported by the Christian Institute.
