Kneecap’s Liam Og O hAnnaidh, identified by his stage title Mo Chara, has been launched on bail after dealing with court docket on a terror offence.
The rapper, who’s a part of the Belfast rap group alongside Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí (actual names Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J J Ó Dochartaigh), was charged with a terror offence over an incident at a gig within the O2 in north London.
The 27-year-old was accused of displaying a flag in assist of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political get together, Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation within the UK.
Arriving on the Magistrates Courtroom, the artist wore darkish black sun shades and a darkish jacket with a keffiyeh, a logo of solidarity with Palestine, sitting on his shoulders.
Lots of of supporters cheered as he arrived at court docket alongside his bandmates. The bandmates have been each carrying T-shirts that learn ‘Free Mo Chara.’
The group smiled and gave their followers the thumbs up as they walked up the steps to the court docket.
Some surged by way of the doorway and entered the foyer of the magistrates’ court docket, simply earlier than the listening to.
The artist arrived as protesters and counter protesters demonstrated exterior of the courtroom, some in assist of his actions, and others in protest.
In court docket, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove stated that O hAnnaidh is ‘nicely inside his rights’ to precise his assist and solidarity for Palestinians.
However he added: ‘This case isn’t about Mr hAnnaidh’s assist for the folks of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.’
Carrying a darkish zip up jacket and trousers, the Kneecap star spoke briefly to verify his id at the start of the listening to.
He was then launched on unconditional bail till his subsequent listening to on August 20, when authorized argument will probably be handled.
Chief Justice of the Peace Paul Goldspring advised him he should attend court docket on that day.
The musician acquired a spherical of applause exterior the courtroom after the brief listening to.
The band then left the court docket to loud cheers and chants of ‘Free Palestine’ from a whole lot of their supporters who remained exterior through the listening to.
Earlier within the morning, police eliminated a pro-Israel protester who wore an Israeli flag on their shoulders, scary boos and swearing from the group.
At one level, an commercial van drove previous the court docket, emblazoned with the assist slogan used for Mo Chara – Extra Blacks, Extra Canine, Extra Irish, Mo Chara.
Kneecap was fashioned in 2017 and has risen to prominence in recent times with songs together with C.E.A.R.T.A, H.O.O.D. and Get Your Brits Out.
The band has been vocal of their unerring assist of Palestine, ceaselessly utilizing their performances and social media pages to discuss the continued Israel-Hamas warfare.
On the night time of the incident in query, Mo Chara is alleged to have displayed the flag ‘in such a manner or in such circumstances as to arouse affordable suspicion that he’s a supporter of a proscribed organisation.’
The incident is alleged to have occurred at a live performance final November – however the Metropolitan Police stated it was solely made conscious of video proof in April.
The complete cost learn: ‘On November 21, 2024, in a public place, particularly the O2 Discussion board, Kentish City, London, displayed an article, particularly a flag, in such a manner or in such circumstances as to arouse affordable suspicion that he’s a supporter of a proscribed organisation, particularly Hezbollah, opposite to part 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.’
In a press release issued in response to the cost, Kneecap stated on social media on Could 22: ‘14,000 infants are about to die of hunger in Gaza, with meals despatched by the world sitting on the opposite facet of a wall, and as soon as once more, the British institution is targeted on us.
‘We deny this “offence” and can vehemently defend ourselves. That is political policing. It is a carnival of distraction. We aren’t the story. Genocide is. As they revenue from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror legislation’ towards us for displaying a flag thrown on stage.
‘A cost not critical sufficient to even warrant their “crown court docket”, as a substitute a court docket that doesn’t have a jury. What’s the target?
‘To limit our journey potential. To stop us chatting with younger folks internationally. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare to talk out.’
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