OUR LATEST ISSUE
SITE SEARCH
Gay News: The Christian preacher who was arrested for allegedly making homophobic comments is to sue for wrongful arrest.
By: Nigel Robinson
Chriistiian Institute is financing legal action
Chriistiian Institute is financing legal action
'Gay sin' preacher to sue
Dale McAlpine was arrested on a street in Workington on 20 April after allegedly condemning homosexuality as a sin.
He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The charges were later dropped , after the arrest was denounced by, among others, gay rights activist Peter Tatchell who said:
"Although I disagree with Dale McAlpine and support protests against his homophobic views, he should not have been arrested and charged. Criminalisation is a step too far.
"Despite my opposition to his opinions, I defend his right to freedom of expression.”
"Despite my opposition to his opinions, I defend his right to freedom of expression.”
McAlpine is intending to sue for unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and unlawful interference with his right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
He said: "As a Christian man, I forgive the police for their actions.
“However, I also want to protect others who may face similar problems in the future.”
Mr McAlpine’s action is being supported and financed by the Christian Institute, an evangelical Christian action group.
In the past the Institute has supported Section 28, opposed an equal age of consent and also financed the legal costs in the Employment Tribunal of Lilian Ladele, a registrar from north London who was suspended from her job after refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies.
