A rally in support of gay marriage in Belfast last month
An overwhelming majority of Northern Ireland people now support gay marriage, a poll has suggested.
The Ipsos MORI survey found that 68 per cent of adults in the Province back the right of same-sex couples to marry.
The News Letter published a brief summary of the findings in Saturday’s paper.
We can now reveal more data.
The survey found that 82 per cent of the 16 to 34 age group support gay marriage, dropping slightly to 75 per cent among 35 to 54-year-olds, and falling sharply to 47 per cent of anyone older than that.
Support was highest in greater Belfast, at 75 per cent, and in other areas it dipped to 63 per cent support.
There was much higher support among Catholics (75 per cent) than Protestants (57 per cent).
Ipsos MORI broke down support by political affiliation. Support ranged from 80 per cent of Sinn Fein voters, to 79 per cent of Alliance voters, 61 per cent of SDLP voters, 49 per cent of Ulster Unionist voters, and 45 per cent of DUP voters.
Some people who saw Saturday’s report have asked about details for which we had no space, such as sample size.
Ipsos MORI say they asked 1,000 adults aged over 16 across Northern Ireland. Interviews were carried out in person from May 20 to June 8.
The data was weighted to match the population profile.
The pollsters say no other group commissioned the survey.
They asked the same question their London team asked in England prior to the 2013 law change there: “To what extent do you agree that homosexual couples should be allowed to marry each other?”
Prior to the Republic’s referendum, surveys over-estimated support for gay marriage by around seven per cent compared to the final 62 per cent Yes vote