Father Ted writer tells trial life was made 'hell' by trans activists

FATHER Ted creator Graham Linehan said he wanted to “destroy” the anonymity of an “abusive” trans activist, a court has heard.

- BY JORDAN REYNOLDS and SAM HALL

The 57-year-old Irish comedy writer is on trial at Westminster Magistrates Court accused of harassing trans woman Sophia Brooks.

District Judge Briony Clarke said the prosecution would address the complainant according to their “affirmed gender name”, while stating the defendant's position was that the “complainant is male”.

Giving evidence yesterday, Linehan said his “life was made hell” by trans activists, claiming the complainant was a “young soldier in the trans activist army”.

The writer added: “He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide.

“He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.”

Asked about the impact on his personal life since his involvement in gender critical activism, Linehan replied: “I lost my marriage. When I refused to stop talking about it, that's when they went after my wife.