In a refreshing update, an Irish comedy writer arrested over social media posts received an apology from UK police.
Graham Linehan, creator of “Father Ted,” and a staunch critic of gender ideology, filed a formal complaint against the Metropolitan Police after his arrest at Heathrow Airport in September 2025. Linehan, who lives in Arizona, was detained by five armed officers at the time on suspicion of inciting violence over anti-transgender comments he posted on social media.
Though charges did not end up being pressed against him, Lineham fought back with his own legal action, and five months after an investigation, the Met Police apologized.
This, from the ‘apology’ I received from the police, doesn’t sound like an apology: “The Met concluded that while the arrest was lawful, aspects of the investigation were flawed and misunderstood, with officers focusing on the anti-transgender nature of Linehan’s posts and…
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) May 18, 2026
“I apologize to Mr Linehan for the shortcomings in this investigation,” Met Police Inspector Matt Hume said, according to The Telegraph, citing the police report. “The Met Police remains committed to lawful, proportionate policing and to learning from failings when they arise.”
“I accept that the service provided was not acceptable and recognize the distress and impact this matter has caused Mr. Linehan,” he added. “I therefore accept that, at times, both the investigation and arrest phases lacked the diligence one would expect from the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service].”
📣🚨GRAHAM LINEHAN ACQUITTED OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE
“The decision of the Court to throw out this case , is very welcome – but this case should never have got to court.
There has been a troubling pattern of police forces around the country to ‘believe’ trans-rights activists, time… pic.twitter.com/AJIuYnxOWP
— The Free Speech Union (@SpeechUnion) May 1, 2026
“None of the officers involved in the case faces any sanction other than ‘learning through reflection’ but Scotland Yard has committed to changing the way it handles future hate-crime allegations involving high-profile people,” the outlet reported.
The Free Speech Union (FSU), which backed Linehan’s legal case, called it “an unacceptable interference in his right to free speech” and welcomed the apology.
“We look forward to working with the Met Police and other police services to ensure their response to complaints about social media posts in future has due regard to freedom of expression,” Lord Young of Acton, the general secretary of FSU, said in a statement to The Telegraph.
📣🚨 FSU MEMBER TESTIMONIAL: Graham Linehan
“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without the Free Speech Union.”
In this week’s instalment of the FSU Member Testimonial series, Graham Linehan speaks about the support he has received from the Free Speech Union.
For more… pic.twitter.com/QhvGrWKZ0y
— The Free Speech Union (@SpeechUnion) May 19, 2026
Linehan spoke before the House Judiciary Committee in February on the topic of European online censorship laws.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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