Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan charged with criminal damage and harassment

FATHER Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been charged with criminal damage and harassment.

The five-time Bafta award winner will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on May 12.

Graham Linehan speaking into a microphone.

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Graham Linehan has been charged with criminal damage and harassmentCredit: Alamy
Graham Linehan speaking at a Let Women Speak rally.

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Mr Linenan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court next monthCredit: PA
Collage of the Father Ted cast and the house used in the show.

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The five-time Bafta award winner is known for writing Father Ted, The IT Crowd, Black Books and Motherland

It’s believed the charges are related to an incident at the Battle of Ideas festival on October 19 last year, The Mirror reported.

Mr Linehan has had a longstanding history of criticising the trans-rights movement.

The 56-year-old shared a statement on social media about the alleged victim.

He wrote on X: “The activist known to me spent a weekend harassing attendees at last years Battle of ideas conference, which I attended.

“After a day of this, I threw his phone away to prevent him from harassing others.

“He is receiving legal advice from a convicted sex offender, who has been harassing me for years.

“I believe he was briefly arrested himself for his campaigns against gender critical campaigners and despite a 400 page evidence file provided by myself and several other of his victims, the police decided on no further action.

“This is part of a long history of the police acting as a goon squad for trans rights activists and I look forward to exposing him and them in court.”

Mr Linehan is known for writing The IT Crowd, Black Books and Motherland.

The Dublin writer has said his vocal criticism of the trans-rights movement has cost him his career and marriage.

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.”