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The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has said he will face “no further action” after being arrested at Heathrow in September on suspicion of inciting violence over social media posts about trans issues.
In a social media post, the comedy writer said the Crown Prosecution Service had dropped the case against him but that intended to sue the Met over a claim of wrongful arrest and breach of his human rights.
Linehan was arrested at Heathrow in September by five armed officers and questioned on suspicion of a public order offence relating to three posts on social media.
His arrest sparked a free speech row and prompted the prime minister Keir Starmer at the time to say that the police should focus on the most serious issues.
Linehan said that he had been informed on Monday that the police would not be taking any further action in relation to the alleged offence.
He wrote: “The police have informed my lawyers that I face no further action in respect of the arrest at Heathrow in September.
“After a successful hearing to get my bail conditions lifted (one which the police officer in charge of the case didn’t even bother to attend) the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the case.
“With the aid of the Free Speech Union, I still aim to hold the police accountable for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender-critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men.”
In an email to Linehan’s lawyers, a detective reportedly wrote: “I am writing to inform you that following a review of the evidence by the Crown Prosecution Service, it has been determined that no further action will be taken in this matter.
“This decision means that no charges will be brought against Graham Linehan in relation to this allegation. Please note that this decision may be reconsidered if further evidence or information comes to light.”
Westminster Magistrates Court ordered last week that Linehan’s bail conditions be dropped after an application on the grounds that they were too vague.
In one of the three tweets cited by police at the time of Linehan’s arrest as evidence of an alleged crime, he had written: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Another was a photograph of a trans-rights protest, with the comment “a photo you can smell”, and a follow-up post which read: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.
The Free Speech Union (FSU) said it had instructed lawyers to sue the Met Police for wrongful arrest on Linehan’s behalf.
They said: “Police forces cannot continue to suppress lawful free speech without facing consequences,” the union said in a post on social media.
“We’ve instructed a top flight team of lawyers to sue the Met for wrongful arrest, among other things.
“Graham deserves an apology but, more importantly, the police need to be taught a lesson that they cannot allow themselves to be continually manipulated by woke activists.”
The arrest in September came days before his appearance in in court on accusations of harassing a transgender woman.
He denies one count of harassing activist Sophia Brooks on social media between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a further charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone last October. The trial was adjourned and will resume on 29 October.
The Met has been contacted for comment.
