Hate crime: Dissent over gay marriage ‘could see you before NI criminal court’
by Adam Kula, Belfast News Letter:
A top UK barrister has issued a stark warning over the proposed expansion of “hate crime” law in the Province.
Thomas Leonard Ross QC said beefing up powers to prosecute people for alleged “hatred” offenses could result in people being brought before the courts because they reject same-sex marriage.
He also envisaged a situation where public debate on issues like transgenderism could basically end.
Mr Ross was president of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association in 2015/16, among other distinctions.
[…] The News Letter approached Mr Ross about it because he is among many figures who are objecting to current efforts to extend “hate crime” law in Scotland.
Regarding the proposed changes to both Scottish and Northern Irish law, he said “there doesn’t seem be much difference between them at first sight”.
Under the ‘Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987’, freedom of speech does get some explicit protection.
It states: “Any discussion or criticism of marriage which concerns the sex of the parties to marriage is not to be taken of itself to be – (A) threatening, abusive or insulting or (B) intended to stir up hatred or arouse fear.”
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