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Gay protest at decision not to pursue Iris prosecution

By Lesley-Anne Henry
Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Gay rights campaigners are expected to stage a protest today to express their anger at the decision not to prosecute Northern Ireland’s First Lady over alleged homophobic remarks.

Iris Robinson (right) caused a furore last June after she branded homosexuality an “abomination”.

The devout Christian, who chairs the Assembly’s health committee, refused to retract her comments despite a huge public outcry.

Last week the PSNI said it was not taking any action against Mrs Robinson after taking advice from the Public Prosecution Service.

A spokeswoman said the police did not believe the DUP woman had committed an offence. Today’s protest is due to take place at about 12.30pm outside Laganside Courts on Oxford Street.

Andy Thompson, chairman of Belfast Pride, said members of the gay community were outraged by the PPS decision.

“Belfast Pride and Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) have teamed up to facilitate this protest to show that the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community in Northern Ireland is extremely angry about this decision. It seems to us that in any other part of the United Kingdom there would have at least been a thorough investigation, if not a case for her to answer,” he said.