Irish Comedian Graham Linehan Faces Harassment Trial Over Trans Activist Phone Incident

Graham Linehan, the creator of 'Father Ted,' is on trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks and of damaging her mobile phone. The incident occurred outside the Battle of Ideas conference in October 2024, where Brooks confronted Linehan while filming, asking why he called teenagers domestic terrorists. Court footage showed Linehan grabbing or allegedly deliberately whacking the phone out of Brooks' hand, leading to damage to the device. Linehan claimed his action was a reflex response to taunting about his family life and described Brooks' behavior as harassment involving close-up filming to provoke a reaction. Prosecutors highlighted Linehan's use of derogatory terms for Brooks on social media, while Linehan's lawyer questioned whether the phone damage was conclusively caused by him. The case involves complex issues around harassment, personal boundaries, and respect for privacy in public confrontations.