Hoteliers appeal ruling

THE Christian hotel owners found to be acting illegally when they refused a gay couple a double room are to appeal against the ruling, according to supporters.

In a landmark ruling, a judge said Peter and Hazelmary Bull were breaking the law when they denied Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy a room at their hotel in Cornwall in September 2008.

Judge Andrew Rutherford also ordered the Bulls to pay the Bristol-based gay couple £1,800 (€2,090) each in damages.

However, in making the ruling at Bristol County Court last week, the judge also granted the couple leave to appeal.

The Newcastle-based Christian Institute funded their defence and it is believed legal bills have cost £45,000 (€52,256) so far.

Mike Judge, of the Christian Institute, told ITV’s West Country Tonight: “Obviously there are some finely balanced legal issues in this case and I think it is important our higher courts have the opportunity to look at this issue.”