Dramatic halt to NI ‘gay cake’ legal battle

An appeal by Christian bakers at the centre of the so-called “gay cake” discrimination battle has been adjourned following a last-minute intervention by Northern Ireland’s top legal adviser.

Last year, Ashers Baking Company, run by the McArthur family, was found to have discriminated against a gay customer for refusing to bake a cake with a pro gay marriage slogan.

Two days had been set aside for the appeal but proceedings at Belfast’s High Court were dramatically halted after it emerged the region’s attorney general, John Larkin, wanted to address any potential conflict between the local equality legislation and European human rights laws.