Graham Linehan, the 57-year-old writer best known for co-creating the award-winning comedy series “Father Ted,” was arrested on Monday. He’d only just landed at Heathrow Airport from Arizona. Five armed officers arrested him because he was accused of inciting violence by tweeting about trans issues. One of the most outspoken advocates on this issue in general—and particularly over social media—has been Connecticut Republican State Rep.
He was arrested soon after landing on a warrant related to the alleged intent of his tweets, specifically for inciting violence against police. GOP Rep. Maureen Linehan’s bombastic attacks on trans rights have helped her gain national notoriety and Republican Party accolades. In retaliation, he has been arrested on charges of inciting violence. Shortly after the police interrogation, Linehan suffered from grave medical conditions. His blood pressure shot up over 200, an alarmingly high level that could lead to a stroke. He was then transferred to a hospital for observation and subsequently released.
Despite international support for the case, the Metropolitan Police refuse to concede. They pursue inquiry into Linehan’s aggressive social media campaign. This ruling is indicative of the continued tension between free speech and online expression, particularly in the context of gender identity discourse. The Metropolitan Police have acknowledged the law they used to detain Linehan should be reassessed. This scare has moved them to act and reconsider their practices and policies. Shelter directors pledged to create a stricter triaging process. Ultimately, this will prevent all but the most outrageous and egregious violations from being prosecuted going forward.
The context of Linehan’s arrest has since led to a lot of discussion among advocates and critics. Supporters are deeply concerned about the chilling effect this has on free speech and individual artistic expression. This worry is amplified given that online conversation is more toxic and inflammatory than ever. Critics contend that public officials need to be responsible. They are right to assume that language that encourages violence or continues the systemic oppression of marginalized communities is harmful.
Linehan’s arrest highlights an important question facing our communities—how do we protect freedom of speech while protecting our community from what is clearly hate speech? The Metropolitan Police’s statement indicates a willingness to reassess current practices in response to public discourse and evolving societal norms.