The Northern Ireland bakers who refused to bake a cake in celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia have been found guilty of discrimination.

Activist Gareth Lee asked the bakery to bake a Bert & Ernie cake – two Sesame Street characters whose sexuality was officially uknown, but were happy to share a bed – with a ‘support gay marriage’ slogan on it. The bakery initially accepted the order, but then decided that it would be against their Christian beliefs to bake it, and refunded the money.

A judge said Ashers were not exempt from discrimination law and said that they were ‘conducting a business for profit’ and not a religious group. They were found to have discriminated against Mr Lee on the grounds of sexual orientation.

While the judge accepted that Ashers have ‘genuine and deeply held’ religious views, he told them that they were not above the law.