Star Metro - UK court clears comedy writer of damaging transgender activist's phone

Linehan co-created the popular 1990s sitcom "Father Ted" but has more recently become well-known for his gender critical views.

A court in November cleared him of harassing the activist, Sophia Brooks, who had accused him of sending "abusive and vindictive messages" on social media.

But the court found him guilty of damaging her phone.

An appeal judge at London's Southwark Crown Court on Friday quashed that conviction for damage after a two-day hearing.

"Having considered all the evidence before us, we cannot be sure that the damage to the complainant's phone was caused by Mr Linehan," said judge Amanda Tipples.

"We therefore found Mr Linehan not guilty of the offence."

Speaking after the hearing, Linehan said the decision to throw out the conviction was "very welcome" but that the case "should never have got to court".

He said he believed there had been a "troubling pattern of police forces around the country to believe trans-rights activists, time and time again, even when there has been overwhelming evidence that complaints have been made against gender critical campaigners, in bad faith".

The Irish writer, who also co-created the sitcoms "Black Books" and "The IT Crowd", became embroiled in a free speech row in Britain last year over his stance.

It followed his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport by armed police over accusations of inciting violence with his social media posts insulting transgender people.

The arrest sparked a backlash and claims of state overreach, including from US tech billionaire Elon Musk. Last October UK prosecutors said they would take "no further action" in that case.

O.Poirier--SMC