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Price: 80p (ir 1.10 eUrO) Thursday, October 18, 2012

The pride of Northern Ireland

www.newsletter.co.uk

Since 1737

Hollywood star raises a toast to Ulster PAGE 3

ONeill: Well have to build on this SPORT

iNside

Gay MP not for same-sex marriage

PiCTUre: Kirth Ferris/Pacemaker

Anti-abortion protestors to be bussed into city

see page 11

Jobs

The latest vacancies inside

Focus on motoring

Ulster-born Catholic at odds with Tory colleagues

BY sam mcBride Political Correspondent
sam.mcbride@newsletter.co.uk

AN ULSTER-born gay Conservative MP has spoken out against David Camerons attempt to introduce gay marriage, warning that even assurances from the Prime Minister may not stop churches from being forced to

conduct same-sex ceremonies. In an interview with the News Letter, Conor Burns a Catholic unionist who was born in north Belfast and is now a rising Tory star spoke for the first time about an issue which has split the Conservative Party. Dealing a blow to the already uncertain prospect of gay marriage becoming law, Mr Burns

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said that he saw no need for a change to the law and that there is no clamour for this at all within the gay community. The MP for Bournemouth West, Branksome East and Alderney said that even the Prime Ministers pledge that churches would not be forced to conduct same-sex ceremonies could be rendered meaningless by the

Human Rights Act. Mr Burns, who is a personal friend of Baroness Thatcher, also said that the former prime minister will never forgive the IRA for attempting to kill her and said that the hatred of some republicans towards the 87-year-old meant that she will receive close protection until her death. Turn to page 9; morning View, page 18

Hanged dogs owner to move

see page 6

Sat. 20th Oct.

STARTS

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