Graham Linehan, the co-creator of the beloved comedy Father Ted, has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but was found guilty of criminal damage for smashing their mobile phone outside a London conference last year.
The 57- time-old flew in from Arizona to appear in person at Westminster Adjudicators’ Court on Tuesday, where District Judge Briony Clarke delivered the verdict.
Linehan denied draining activist Sonia Brooks between 11 and 27 October 2024, and also denied damaging their phone on 19 October outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.
Background of the Case Involving Graham Linehan
The case has drawn wide attention, incompletely because of Linehan’s high profile as a comedy pen and also due to his open views on ambisexual issues.
The legal disagreement began after Brooks, an ambisexual activist, was taking photos of delegates during a speech by Fiona McAnena, director of juggernauts at coitus Matters.
Outside the venue, Brooks reportedly confronted Linehan, asking: “Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?”
Prosecutors claimed that Linehan responded with a series of insulting remarks, calling Brooks a “sissy porn-watching scumbag”, a “groomer,” and a “disgusting incel”, and that he posted “repeated, abusive, unreasonable” social media messages about Brooks, whom he referred to as “Tarquin”.
Linehan’s Response and Social Media Controversy
Linehan told the court he felt targeted by trans activists and described Brooks as “a young soldier in the trans activist army,” adding that their actions were “misogynistic, abusive, and snide.”
The case highlights ongoing pressures between certain public numbers and ambisexual activists, particularly online, and has been extensively reported in the media.
His recent controversies have also drawn responses from other public figures, including Victoria Coren Mitchell’s comments on Linehan, which have added further attention to the debate.
While Linehan has been cleared of importunity, he’ll face sentencing at a later date for the felonious damage charge related to the smashed phone.
