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Irish Comedy writer Graham Linehan, creator of the sitcom “Father Ted,” was cleared of harassing a teenage transgender activist on social media but was found guilty of damaging the teen’s phone. Linehan denied both allegations.
According to BBC NewsLinehan was fined £500 (approximately $655) and ordered to pay £650 costs and a £200 statutory surcharge after being found guilty on Tuesday of criminal damage relating to the phone.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London heard that Linehan “deliberately slapped the phone out of the hand” of transgender activist Sophia Brooks before the Battle of Ideas conference last year. Brooks, who was born a biological male but identifies as a female, allegedly confronted and filmed Linehan during the incident.
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Graham Linehan speaks to members of the press outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
BBC News reported the court also heard that the Irish comedy writer “relentlessly” posted offensive comments about Brooks on social media, but the judge ruled those posts did not constitute harassment.
After their confrontation in October, Linehan was accused of harassing Brooks – then 17 – calling her a “sociopath,” “psycho,” “domestic terrorist” and “groomer” on X.
District Judge Briony Clarke said that while Linehan’s posts were “unattractive, annoying and irritating”, she ruled that they were not “oppressive or unacceptable” and therefore did not meet the criminal threshold for harassment, according to the BBC.
The judge also said she did not believe “the complainant was as ‘troubled and distressed’ as he portrayed himself to be through these messages and behavior,” and noted that Brooks “gave less than truthful testimony” during the September trial. Conversely, the judge ruled that Linehan was “generally a credible witness.”
Graham Linehan poses with a placard reading “There is no such thing as a transgender child” outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, England, on September 4, 2025. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
The BBC reported that the Irish comedy writer told the court on Tuesday that there was “a group of dangerous men determined to victimize women and girls and abuse the courts and police to further misogynistic ends.”
“I am proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so,” he added.
Brooks released a statement re-shared on X by Stephanie Hayden, who expressed satisfaction with the partial condemnation and called Linehan a “thug.”
Although Linehan has nothing to do with the above court case was arrested at London Heathrow Airport in September over several social media posts criticizing transgender activists.
Linehan’s arrest sparked anger among some public figures and politicians and sparked a debate on social media about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom.
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Graham Linehan leaves Westminster Magistrates Court on September 4, 2025 in London, England. (Issyia Abodunde/GETTY Images)
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The city police finished his examination in October after the Crown Prosecution Service decided no further action should be taken.
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.