FATHER Ted creator Graham Linehan told cops he was acting in the public interest when he dubbed a teenage trans activist a “domestic terrorist” online, a court heard yesterday.
The Irish comedy writer — arrested by five armed cops at Heathrow on Monday over separate posts — is accused of posting abusive comments and later damaging the student’s phone.
GettyLinehan posed for photographs wearing a board that read: ‘There’s no such thing as a ‘Transgender Child”[/caption]
AlamyPlacards carrying slogans were shown outside the court[/caption]
Linehan, 57, was greeted at Westminster magistrates’ court by supporters including ex-Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and Lord Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union.
Placards carried slogans such as “Women’s rights are human rights” and — in a nod to a famous Father Ted scene — “Down with this sort of thing”.
Linehan posed for photographs wearing a board proclaiming: “There’s no such thing as a ‘Transgender Child’.”
The court was told Linehan harassed trans activist Sophia Brooks, then 17, on social media.
He accused the student, now 18, of being among young activists who released thousands of insects at a conference held by the LGB Alliance, an advocacy group for lesbians, gays and bisexuals which they considered a “hate group”.
The activist denied that but admitted finding it “somewhat funny”.
Sharing a snap of the student, Linehan asked the Metropolitan Police on X: “Will they take seriously this example of domestic terrorism, in which I believe some silly children were doing the bidding of some very dangerous men?”
At the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster last October the activist repeatedly approached Linehan while filming, asking if he thought it was “acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists online”.
The dad-of-two responded by calling the student a “groomer” and an “incel”.
They hit back: “You’re the incel — you’re divorced.”
Linehan is accused of snatching the iPhone and chucking it, causing damage valued at £369.
Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker said Linehan gave police a prepared statement when interviewed under caution in February.
She added: “He said that he considered that the complainant — whom he referred to as Tarquin throughout — had harassed him by approaching him and filming him at close quarters.
“He said the complainant provoked him and put the phone in his face.
“He grabbed it and threw it to the side, it was a reflex response.
“He believed exposing the tactics was in the public interest.”
AlamyEx-Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies greeted Linehan at Westminster magistrates’ court[/caption]
AlamyOther supporters included Lord Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union[/caption]
In April Linehan said the response amounted to “police acting as a goon squad for trans rights activists”.
But the activist said: “These posts made me worried for my safety.
“A person with 500,000 followers on Twitter was making spurious claims about me grooming children and being a domestic terrorist.”
A video was shown in which the student referred to critics as terfs and said: “We know who you are and we are cataloguing everything you do, so don’t you worry your pretty little head, you will pay.”
Linehan denies all charges and the hearing continues.
Linehan claimed he was escorted to hospital after he was arrested because the stress caused his blood pressure to skyrocket
PALinehan has denied harassing the trans activist on social media[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
