Graham Linehan Faces Trial for Harassing Transgender Activist

Graham Linehan, the creator of the popular television series *Father Ted*, is currently on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for allegedly harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks. The 57-year-old Irish writer is facing accusations of making derogatory remarks about Brooks in a series of social media posts described by the prosecution as “vindictive” and “oppressive.”

During the proceedings, District Judge Briony Clarke indicated that the court would address Brooks according to her “affirmed gender name.” She clarified that Linehan’s defense contends that Brooks is male. Judge Clarke also stated that both parties did not wish to impose language restrictions that could disrupt the trial.

In her opening statement, prosecutor Julia Faure Walker outlined the nature of Linehan’s posts, asserting that he had targeted Brooks “relentlessly.” She characterized his comments as “verbally abusive” and said they reflected Linehan’s profound dislike for the activist.

October 11, 2022, marked a significant date when a women’s rights conference hosted by the LGB Alliance was disrupted. According to the prosecution, this incident led Linehan to incorrectly link Brooks to the disruption, despite a lack of evidence implicating her. Following the event, Linehan took to social media to express his beliefs regarding the actions of certain individuals present at the conference, referring to the situation as an example of “domestic terrorism.”

On October 13, he escalated his remarks, calling Brooks a “deeply disturbed sociopath” and alleging her involvement in the aforementioned disruption. Brooks testified that Linehan’s accusations caused her alarm and distress, particularly due to his substantial following of over 500,000 on social media, which she feared could lead to further harm.

The trial also revealed a confrontation between Linehan and Brooks outside the Battle of Ideas conference on October 19. Brooks described an incident where Linehan allegedly grabbed her phone and threw it into the street after a heated exchange. She claimed, “I demanded he give me my phone back… he said: ‘Go and get your f****** phone’ and threw it into the road.”

The court heard that Linehan had used a derogatory name, “Tarquin,” to refer to Brooks in his posts. Brooks explained that this term was related to her perceived social status. Linehan’s online activity included a post stating he had met “Tarquin” and referred to Brooks as an “absolute psycho.” In another instance, he suggested that Brooks had a history of harassment against women and gay men, which the prosecution argued constituted further harassment.

On February 5, 2023, Linehan was interviewed under caution and provided a prepared statement. He claimed that Brooks had harassed him by approaching and filming him closely, asserting that his actions were a “reflex response” to her provocations. He refused to acknowledge that his online posts amounted to harassment, insisting that his critiques were in the public interest as a journalist.

Before entering the courtroom, Linehan was seen with a sandwich board displaying messages that included “There’s no such thing as a ‘transgender child'” and “Keep men out of women’s sports.” Throughout the trial, he has denied the charge of harassment against Brooks, which is alleged to have occurred between October 11 and October 27, 2022, as well as a related charge of criminal damage concerning her mobile phone.

The trial is ongoing, with significant public interest surrounding the implications of such high-profile cases involving gender identity and online conduct.