Daniel and Amy McArthur say they have no regrets about refusing to bake cake with pro-gay marriage message on it

An evangelical Christian couple at the centre of the “gay cake” court case have insisted they never meant to discriminate against anyone and do not hate gay people.

Daniel and Amy McArthur also said the case against them last year had strengthened their marriage.

Ashers Baking Company was found guilty last year by a county court in Northern Ireland of breaking the province’s strict laws on political and sexual discrimination. The case centred on the McArthurs’ refusal to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage message on it.

They were taken to court by the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland and the couple were fined £500. They are appealing against the ruling, and are being supported by the Christian Institute, which released a statement from the McArthurs before their court of appeal hearing in Belfast on Wednesday.

Daniel McArthur said: “It was clear we did not hate anyone. We didn’t want to discriminate against anyone. We did what we did because of our Christian beliefs. It’s done out of love for God, to obey Him.”

He also criticised the Equality Commission, which he accused of being “very one-sided.”

“They wanted to pursue it with everything they had,” Daniel McArthur said. “They wanted to take us to court, maybe teach us a lesson or send out a signal. The signal they were trying to send out was: If you’re a Christian don’t bring it into work.”



Amy McArthur said: “This case has been a blessing in our marriage. God has used this to strengthen our marriage and our relationship with God. We have to trust in him and we have seen him answer our prayers time and time again.”

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The McArthurs disclosed that Ashers Bakery in central Belfast has suffered some minor acts of vandalism on their premises since the case came to light but the company has not suffered financially.



Daniel McArthur added that he and his wife had no regrets in taking a stand over the cake.

“If you came to me and you said: would we go through it again? I would say yes.

“And I would say to other Christians facing pressure at work or in public life: don’t be afraid to take your Christian stand because we’ve learned God is with you in all of it and he gives you the grace to stand against these trials and challenges.”

The couple were originally members of the Free Presbyterian Church, founded by the late Rev Ian Paisley. The pair, who met while doing missionary work in the Philippines, now worship at Trinity Reformed Presbyterian church in Mossley, in the northern outskirts of Belfast.