Comedy Writer Graham Linehan Cleared of Harassment Charges, Fined for Criminal Damage

Emmy award-winning comedy writer Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist online by a London court. However, the co-creator of "Father Ted" was found guilty of criminal damage after knocking a mobile phone out of the activist's hand.

Key Takeaways

• Graham Linehan was acquitted of online harassment charges.

• He was convicted of criminal damage for knocking a phone from an activist's hand.

• Linehan received a fine and was ordered to pay costs.

Harassment Allegations Dismissed

Graham Linehan, known for his work on popular sitcoms like "Father Ted," "Black Books," and "The IT Crowd," faced accusations of sending "abusive and vindictive" messages on social media to transgender activist Sophia Brooks. District Judge Briony Clarke stated that she was not convinced Linehan's conduct was "oppressive and unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating." The judge also concluded that Brooks was not "as alarmed and distressed as they portrayed themself to be."

Criminal Damage Conviction

Despite being cleared of harassment, Linehan was convicted of criminal damage. The incident occurred when he deliberately knocked a phone out of Brooks' hand as they were filming him on the sidelines of a London conference. Judge Clarke ruled that Linehan was "angry and fed up" and did not use "reasonable force" during the altercation.

Sentencing and Previous Incidents

As a result of the criminal damage conviction, Linehan was fined £500 (approximately $655) and ordered to pay £650 in costs, along with a £200 statutory surcharge. This case follows a period where Linehan has become a prominent figure in discussions surrounding gender identity and free speech in the UK. Earlier this year, he was arrested at London Heathrow Airport over accusations of inciting violence through his posts on X (formerly Twitter) that were critical of transgender people. Prosecutors later decided to take no further action in that particular case, a decision that had drawn attention from figures including US tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Sources

• UK court clears comedy writer of harassing transgender woman, Courthouse News.

• UK Court Clears Comedy Writer Of Harassing Transgender Woman • Channels Television, Channels Television.