Graham Linehan, the Irish co-creator of British TV comedy show “Father Ted”, has been found guilty of damaging the phone of a trans woman but cleared of harassing her by posting comments about her online.<\/p>\n
Linehan, 57, a vocal critic of transgender activism in recent years, has found himself at the centre of a heated “culture war” debate in Britain on the issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Trans activists say his views cause offence while Linehan’s supporters argue campaigners are trying to silence criticism and free speech.<\/p>\n
He was found guilty at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court of causing criminal damage following an incident at a conference in October last year involving then 17-year-old trans woman Sophia Brooks.<\/p>\n
But he was acquitted of accusations that he had “relentlessly” targeted her on social media by publishing more than 20 posts on X about Brooks using phrases such as “psycho” and “domestic terrorist”.<\/p>\n
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Graham Linehan has been found guilty of damaging the phone of a trans woman but cleared of harassing her online. (Getty Images: Dan Kitwood)<\/p>\n
She had told his trial that it had left her “alarmed and distressed”.<\/p>\n
Judge Briony Clarke said it was not for the court to “pick a side” in the debate on trans issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The judge ruled that while Linehan’s posts were “deeply unpleasant and insulting”, they were not “oppressive and unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating”.<\/p>\n
The judge said she had concerns about Brooks’ credibility and whether she had given “entirely truthful evidence”.<\/p>\n
“The defendant is clearly firm in his views and as I have made clear it is not for me to adjudicate upon whether he is right in those views or not,” Ms Clarke said.<\/p>\n
“Whilst robust in his views, I did not find that the defendant was seeking to mislead the court and appeared to be a generally frank and honest witness.”<\/p>\n
However, she found him guilty of criminal damage, saying he had intentionally thrown Ms Brooks’ phone to the floor. He was fined 500 pounds and ordered to pay court costs.<\/p>\n