In January 2013, the Court decided that the UK had not violated the rights of the individuals. A panel of five judges decides if the Grand Chamber will accept a referral.

The applicants, three practicing Christians, argued that UK law violated their Convention rights under Article 9 (freedom of religion) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination). The first applicant, Ms Chaplin, is a nurse and claimed her rights had been violated when her employer prohibited her from wearing a small cross visibly at work. Mr McFarlane and Ms Ladele, the second and third applicants are a relationship advisor and a civil registrar. They claimed that they were unfairly dismissed when they refused to provided their services to same-sex couples. A fourth applicant was successful in January when the Court found that the UK had violated her Convention rights. In that case the Court found that the applicant’s right to wear a visible cross showing her religious beliefs outweighed the employer’s aim of maintaining a corporate image.

Click here to read a previous Bulletin article on the original judgment.

Click here to read the recent judgment.