Peter Robinson says legal action over cake row is ‘bonkers’

Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson has described a decision to take a bakery to court in a row over a pro-gay marriage cake slogan as “bonkers”

Mr Robinson criticised the Equality Commission’s decision to fund legal action against Ashers Baking Company after they refused to make a cake with a ‘Support Gay Marriage’ slogan.

“This kind of decision by the Equality Commission is bonkers. I think they really do need to wind their necks in. At a time when we’re scraping around to get funding essential services in Northern Ireland, they’re tossing it into the courts,” he told the BBC.

In July the commission warned the bakery it could face prosecution after it refused an order for the cake which was to feature the Sesame Street puppets, Bert and Ernie, with their arms around one another.

Earlier this week, Ashers Bakery accused the Equality Commission of engaging in a “David and Goliath” action against the company because as a Christian bakery “in conscience” it would not bake the cake for the customer.

The slogan on the cake was to state “Support Gay Marriage” and to feature the logo of Queerspace, a gay, bisexual and transgender volunteer organisation based in Belfast.