In October 2016, the Court of Appeal in Belfast found that Ashers Baking Company had directly discriminated against a man on the grounds of sexual orientation contrary to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2006 and on the grounds of religious and political belief contrary to the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998, upholding the 2015 decision of District Judge Brownlie.

The issues to be considered by the Supreme Court are:

1. Whether the Appellants directly discriminated against a customer, the Respondent, on the grounds of sexual orientation, contrary to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2006, and religious and political belief, contrary to the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998, by refusing to make a cake decorated with the words “Support Gay Marriage”.
2. Whether the relevant provisions of the 2006 Regulations and 1998 Order breached the Appellants’ rights under Article 9 and/or 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, separately or together with Article 14 of the Convention.