A police watchdog has ordered officers in the UK to take another look at a complaint linked to the arrest of Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan, after concluding the force’s earlier handling of the matter fell short.
The 58-year-old Irish writer was detained at Heathrow Airport in September 2025 after arriving on a flight from Arizona. Police arrested him on suspicion of inciting violence in connection with three posts he made on X.
Mr Linehan later received an apology from police and reached a settlement following a civil claim.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Mr Linehan subsequently asked it to review how police dealt with a complaint about the investigation into him and the way officers treated him.
His application, received in May 2026, included “an allegation that he was discriminated against due to his gender-critical beliefs”.
After assessing the case, the watchdog determined the police response to Mr Linehan’s complaint was inadequate and instructed the force to reinvestigate the discrimination allegation.
“In October, we found the outcome of the complaint was not reasonable and proportionate and directed the Met to reinvestigate a number of the allegations made.
“We found that, during the complaint investigation, the force failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the grounds for the man’s arrest and failed to pursue lines of inquiry regarding a complaint about the man’s bail conditions,” an IOPC spokesperson said.
The IOPC added: “We also directed them to reinvestigate the allegation that he was discriminated against.”
“The man will have a further right of review to the IOPC should he be dissatisfied with the outcome of the force’s reinvestigation.”
