Graham Linehan Convicted of Damaging Phone, Cleared of Harassment Charges
Irish comedian Graham Linehan, renowned for his work on the sitcom ‘Father Ted,’ has been found guilty of damaging the phone of transgender activist Sophia Brooks but was cleared of harassment charges. The court case, which took place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, concluded that Linehan’s actions, including ‘deliberately whacking’ Brooks’ phone during an incident at the Battle of Ideas conference, led to the criminal damage conviction. Although Linehan denied both charges, the judge ruled that his social media posts, which included terms like ‘sociopath,’ ‘psycho,’ and ‘domestic terrorist,’ did not meet the threshold for harassment.
Linehan, who has been embroiled in controversy over his comments regarding transgender issues, received a £500 fine and was ordered to pay additional costs and a statutory surcharge. The court also stated that Brooks’ testimony was not entirely truthful, and the judge found Linehan to be a credible witness. The decision has sparked a broader discussion about free speech and the handling of harassment claims in the UK, with some public figures and politicians expressing outrage over his arrest in September, which was later dropped by the Metropolitan Police after the Crown Prosecution Service deemed further action unnecessary.
Brooks, who identified as a woman despite being born male, had reportedly confronted and filmed Linehan during the incident. Her statement, reshared by advocate Stephanie Hayden, expressed satisfaction with the partial conviction and labeled Linehan a ‘thug.’ Meanwhile, Linehan has continued to voice his stance on the issue, calling for the UK to be free from what he deems as a ‘misogynistic agenda’ by those who oppose his views. The case has drawn attention to the complexities of balancing free expression with the potential for online harassment, and the ongoing debate over how legal systems in the UK address such issues.