Graham Linehan, 56, charged with criminal damage and harassment as Father Ted creator issues response
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been charged with criminal damage and harassment without violence offences.
The 56-year-old writer is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on May 12.
The charges are understood to relate to an alleged incident at the Battle of Ideas festival on October 19, 2024.
Linehan, a five-time Bafta award winner, is also known for writing hit TV shows including The IT Crowd and Black Books.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges in a statement today.
Writing on social media, Linehan claimed he was being charged for “defending myself against a deranged and dangerous trans activist”.
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He admitted to throwing away the phone of the activist, whom he accused of “harassing attendees” at the festival.
According to its website, the Battle of Ideas event allows people to debate issues facing society in a “full and frank manner”.
A CPS spokesperson said: “Graham Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court for a first hearing to face charges of harassment without violence and criminal damage on 12 May.”
The writer has maintained that he was defending himself during the incident.
Linehan continues to be active on social media, where he has built a following for his gender-critical stance.
The court hearing next month is expected to address both the criminal damage and harassment without violence charges.
No further details about the alleged victim have been released by authorities.
Linehan has become known for his criticism of the trans-rights movement in recent years.
The incident marks the latest chapter in what has become a contentious public stance for the Irish comedy writer.
After being contacted by the Mirror, Linehan issued a statement claiming: “This is part of a long history of the police acting as a goon squad for trans rights activists.”
In the statement, which he also posted on social media, he made allegations about the alleged victim in the case.
“I look forward to exposing him and them in court,” the writer added.
Linehan has previously claimed that his career and marriage have been destroyed over his gender-critical views.
He has also said he had lost his career, family and friends after getting caught up in the trans debate.
Born in Dublin, Linehan survived cancer in 2018 and has continued to be a prominent voice in British comedy.
He penned a memoir, Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy, published in October 2023, which reached number 10 on the Sunday Times bestseller list.
In 2023, he staged a stand-up comedy show outside the Scottish Parliament after his original Edinburgh Fringe venue cancelled his booking over his views.
Linehan has also written for shows including Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye and The Fast Show.
He previously praised the Supreme Court’s decision confirming that the word “woman” was based on biological sex.