Father Ted Co-Creator Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Social Media Posts
september 2, 2023
LONDON – Graham Linehan, the celebrated co-creator of the hit Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, has revealed he was arrested at heathrow Airport upon his arrival from Arizona on Monday, September 1st.The arrest stems from concerns regarding social media posts he shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) in April relating to his views on trans rights.
Linehan, 57, detailed the incident in a post on his Substack blog, stating he was instantly detained by five armed officers after landing. He was subsequently placed in a cell and questioned about the content of his X posts. According to Linehan, a nurse assessed his condition during questioning and found his blood pressure had risen to a dangerously high level, prompting a transfer to the hospital’s A&E department.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest in a statement, though they did not initially identify Linehan. A spokesperson stated: “On Monday 1 September at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.”
“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X,” the statement continued. “After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital.His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”
The police confirmed the arrest was carried out by officers from the Aviation Unit, adding that it is indeed standard procedure for airport policing officers to be armed. “These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest,” the spokesperson clarified.
Linehan has now been released on bail pending further investigation. The incident has already sparked considerable debate online, raising questions about freedom of speech and the boundaries of acceptable discourse on social media.
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