Senior judges in Belfast have allowed Northern Ireland’s Attorney General to become involved in the Ashers Baking Company gay cake row.
The Northern Irish bakery is appealing against its £500 fine for refusing to make a pro-gay marriage cake for gay rights activist Gareth Lee. The appeal was interrupted on 3 February due to a surprise request by the Attorney General, John Larkin QC, to deliver a representation on any clashes between European and Northern Irish discrimination law.
According to The Belfast Telegraph, the judges’ decision will now allow Larkin to make those representations when the case resumes on 9 May.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said: “We are satisfied that there is an issue about whether or not the relevant statutes give rise to direct discrimination issues, which is more than frivolous and vexatious.”
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is the chief legal advisor in Northern Ireland for areas of criminal and civil laws which have been devolved to the region.
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