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Graham Linehan, co-creator of the popular TV show *Father Ted*, has been found not guilty of harassing a teenage transgender activist on social media, though he was convicted of damaging her phone. The incident occurred outside a conference in October, when Linehan “deliberately whacked” Sophia Brooks’ phone and threw it into the road, according to the trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The court also heard that the Irish writer posted numerous abusive comments online. While the judge ruled that these posts did not constitute harassment, Linehan was found guilty of criminal damage for the destruction of the phone. Linehan has denied both accusations.
The harassment accusation stemmed from Linehan calling Brooks, who was 17 at the time, derogatory names such as “sociopath,” “psycho,” “domestic terrorist,” and “groomer” on the social media platform X. District Judge Briony Clarke described the posts as “unattractive, annoying and irritating,” as well as “deeply unpleasant and even unnecessary,” but concluded that they did not reach the criminal threshold required for harassment. The two met in person at the Battle of Ideas conference in London, where Brooks, a transgender woman, confronted Linehan and recorded the encounter. The judge determined that Linehan’s act of grabbing and throwing the phone was driven by anger and frustration rather than an attempt to prevent crime, resulting in damage to the device.
During the court proceedings, Judge Clarke expressed doubt over Brooks’ portrayal of distress caused by Linehan’s messages, stating she did not believe Brooks was as “alarm[ed] and distress[ed]” as claimed. The judge also questioned Brooks’ truthfulness during testimony while considering Linehan generally credible. Sentencing included a £500 fine, a £650 cost payment, and a £200 statutory surcharge. Linehan described knocking the phone as a “reflex response” and spoke of the difficulties he has faced due to his views on gender identity, stating that his life had been “made hell” by transgender activists. The judge emphasized the court’s neutrality on the broader debate surrounding sex and gender identity and chose to use gender-neutral pronouns for Brooks in the ruling.
Speaking after the verdict, Linehan accused “a group of dangerous men” of bullying women and girls and exploiting legal systems to promote a misogynistic agenda. He declared, “I’m proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.” Meanwhile, Sophia Brooks released a statement saying that “justice has finally been served,” condemning Linehan as a “plainly bigoted, bad tempered thug, and a criminal.” She criticized Linehan’s supporters, including certain politicians, journalists, and civic leaders, saying they “should hold their heads in shame” and concluded with the statement, “Some people are just different, get over it.” This case was separate from Linehan’s earlier arrest at Heathrow Airport linked to allegations of inciting violence on social media, which was subsequently dropped by the Metropolitan Police
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