By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-14 21:35:52 | Updated at 2026-10-16 11:46:20
1 day ago
WATCH: Graham Linehan speaks to GB News about his arrest over social media posts
The Metropolitan Police has been ordered to reinvestigate a complaint made by Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, following his arrest at Heathrow Airport in 2025.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that the Met's own review of the handling of Mr Linehan's case "did not go far enough", describing its findings as "not reasonable and proportionate".
Mr Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport in September 2025 over gender-critical social media posts.
He then filed a complaint with the IOPC about the arrest, which argued it was both unlawful and an abuse of his rights to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The social media posts, shared six months prior to the arrest, were reported to police by transgender ex-police officer Lynsay Watson, accusing Mr Linehan of a "hate crime" and "inciting violence".
One post read: "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."
In another, Mr Linehan shared a picture of what appeared to be a trans rights demonstration with the caption: "A photo you can smell."
The post was then followed with the comment: "I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** ’em."
The Met's internal review of the case agreed that Mr Linehan's detention had been "unacceptable" and issued an unreserved apology.
They concluded that while the arrest was lawful, aspects of the investigation were "flawed and misunderstood".
The review also found that the officers had wrongly focused on the anti-transgender element of the remarks rather than the alleged incitement of violence.
It also claimed the investigation had been "adversely affected" by the lack of experience of the "overworked trainee detective" and "poor supervision" from his bosses.
The Met agreed to pay £25,000 in compensation to the Mr Linehan as a result.
However, the IOPC has now pointed to a legal ruling which states anti-trans views could be considered a "protected characteristic".
The watchdog has argued that the internal review did not provide a sufficient explanation as to why Mr Linehan had been detained.
According to The Telegraph, the watchdog said if the force "cannot establish sound rationale concerning the legality of the arrest, the application of Article 10 and the reasons justifying bail conditions", then there "may be sufficient evidence pointing towards a conclusion that Mr Linehan received unfair treatment (including in interview) due to his potential protected characteristic".
Reacting to the IOPC's findings, Mr Linehan said: "The so-called complainant in this case has made scores of spurious claims, as evidenced by the High Court claims that he has lost.
"The only possible reason the Met acted in the extreme way they did was political bias.
"That the Met sought to cover this up is yet more evidence of a two-tier approach to the policing of this debate."
A Met Police spokesman said: "We will be reviewing the IOPC’s decision and reopening the complaint."
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