‘I believe that everyone should be able to marry the person they love; it’s as simple as that’ – Paddy Barnes

Belfast sporting hero and two times Olympic medal winner, Paddy Barnes, has today lent his support to the call for marriage equality for Northern Ireland.

Speaking in advance of a major march and rally in Belfast calling for a change in the law in Northern Ireland to allow same-sex couples to marry, Paddy said:

“Although I can’t be there in person at the march and rally, I want to voice my complete support for civil marriage equality. 

“I’m hoping to be married myself and I believe that everyone should be able to marry the person they love; it’s as simple as that.

“It’s going to be a fantastic day on Saturday and I would urge everyone to get down to Belfast City Centre to support this.”

Paddy Barnes is just the latest Northern Ireland public figure to express his backing for marriage equality in recent weeks. He joins Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, singers Brian Kennedy and Bronagh Gallagher and actor Stephen Rea who have all backed the right for same-sex couples to get married.

The march and rally for civil marriage equality is organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Amnesty International and the Rainbow Project.  Assemble at the University of Ulster Belfast campus, York Street at 2.30pm for march to the rally at City Hall.