Irish Hairdresser 'horrified' by printers over gay wedding invitation snub

John Kierans and Jonathon Brennan are due to marry in August Credit: Jonathon Brennan

A hairdresser says he was "horrified" by a printing company, which refused to take his order for an upcoming gay wedding on religious grounds.

Jonathon Brennan, who owns the Avenue Hair and Beauty salon in Drogheda, Ireland, said he had his business refused by Beulah Print for the first time, when it came to his wedding to long-term partner, John Kierans in August.

Speaking to ITV News, Mr Brennan, who has been a client of Beulah Print for four years, said the day had been a "whirlwind" and was "shocked" at what had happened to him and his partner.

"I am very hurt and shocked that in 2015 this is the attitude of some people. The printers says it is down to their Christian values but to me their values are most un-Christian.

"I was brought up as a Catholic man and taught to love one another. It shocks me, I'm horrified that people can be refused business in this way because of their sexuality," he added.

The dispute has blown up just just weeks away from when Irish voters will have their say on whether to extend marriage rights to gay couples in a referendum.

The case echoes a dispute in Northern Ireland where Ashers Bakers in Belfast, also a Christian owned company, refused to make a cake that carried a pro-gay marriage slogan.

Mike O'Leary, one of the co-owners of Beulah Print, defended the decision not to print the invitations and said that it is not the first time the company has refused to take orders from same-sex couples.

"We have turned down other classes of work that we'd not be happy to print - mainly things that are borderline pornographic," he said.

In a statement, Beulah Print added: "We, at Beulah Print, are Bible-believing Christians who are committed to standing by our conscience and God's Word.

"We have been in business for 12 years during which time we have held to our convictions and have at times declined a variety of work which we felt was clearly contrary to our beliefs.

"We have never hidden our faith from our customers and represent the gospel at every opportunity."

Mr Brennan said that he and Mr Kierans had already had offers from other printers for the invitations and was touched by their generosity.

"Many have been in touch and said they were shocked and appalled at what had happened. Some have said they would print the invitations free of charge."