Supreme Court costs order in case of Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd
08/02/2019
Equality Commission NI statement
Supreme Court Costs Order in case of Gareth Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd. & Others.
The Supreme Court has made an order in respect of costs in the case of Lee V Ashers Baking Company Ltd & Others.
Ashers Baking Co Ltd had made an application to the Supreme Court, by way of written submissions, seeking payment by the Equality Commission of their costs, which were substantial.
The Equality Commission queried the basis of this application, as it had been clear throughout the case that the company was being assisted by the Christian Institute, through its Legal Defence Fund.
The matter was resolved when both parties agreed to terms which were subsequently made an order by the Supreme Court.
The Order states that there will be no order as to costs in the Supreme Court and that costs orders made by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland and the County Court be set aside.
The effective outcome of this is that both sides bear their own costs.