Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan cleared of harassing transgender activist, but found guilty of criminal damage

"Linehan denied harassing Sonia Brooks on social media between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on October 19 last year outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster. The trial heard that Brooks had begun taking photographs of delegates at the event during a speech by Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters. Outside the event, the activist asked Linehan: "Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?""

"In response, the court heard that Linehan had called Brooks a "sissy porn-watching scumbag", a "groomer" and a "disgusting incel", with the complainant responding: "You're the incel, you're divorced." Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker told the court that Linehan had written "repeated, abusive, unreasonable" social media posts about Brooks, who he referred to as Tarquin. The comedy writer, who has well-publicised strong views on gender issues, said his "life was made hell" by trans activists, adding that the complainant was a "young soldier in the trans activist army". The writer added: "He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide. He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.""

Linehan faced allegations of online harassment of Sonia Brooks between October 11 and October 27 and of damaging Brooks's mobile phone on October 19 outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster. Brooks had taken photographs of delegates during a speech by Fiona McAnena. Outside the event, Brooks challenged Linehan about comments calling teenagers domestic terrorists. Linehan verbally insulted Brooks with terms including "sissy porn-watching scumbag", "groomer" and "disgusting incel". Prosecutors said Linehan posted repeated abusive social media posts referring to Brooks as Tarquin. Linehan said trans activists had made his life "hell" and described the complainant as a "young soldier in the trans activist army".

Read at Irish Independent