Kneecap won't be prosecuted for 'Kill your local MP' call at this time, Met Police say
MEMBERS OF BELFAST rap group Kneecap will not face any charges relating to footage allegedly calling for the death of British MPs during a gig in November 2023.
Counter-terrorism police in the UK were assessing the footage, which appeared to show one band member telling the crowd: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.'
A Met Police spokesperson said: 'A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Advertisement
'A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation. However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution.'
A decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time, the spokesperson continued, and added that the police force understands the impact the decision may have on MPs.
Kneecap have found themselves in hot water as of late as one member of the band, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who uses the stage name Mo Chara,
was charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah
, a proscribed organisation in Britain.
The charge followed a video that was uncovered and distributed of a gig the Belfast rap band did in the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London last November.
Ó hAnnaidh
appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court
earlier this month, where hundreds of supporters were gathered outside waving Irish and Palestinian flags in support of the rap group.
Related Reads
Kneecap: What's the terror charge 'Mo Chara' is facing, what's the defence and the sentence?
'We will fight you in your court. We will win' - Kneecap slams 'political policing' after terror charge
Yesterday, the band performed at Glastonbury to a packed audience. Their set was not live-streamed on the BBC due to criticism from politicians and Ó hAnnaidh's charge for a terror offence.
British police said today they are assessing videos of comments made by Kneecap and another act, Bob Vylan, at the music festival yesterday to decide whether any offences may have been committed.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
33 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Charges dropped against Kneecap, London's Metropolitan Police confirm
The UK's Met Police have confirmed they will not be charging members of Kneecap for allegedly calling on fans to "kill your local MP". In a statement, London's Met Police said they have completed "a thorough investigation" of the footage that emerged from their gig in November 2023. The footage appeared to show one person from the band saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." The Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism detectives have completed "a thorough investigation" but there will be no charges because the alleged offences happened beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution. "A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution." They added: "Relevant indictable offences were considered by the investigation team and, based on all of the current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time." Earlier this year, the group issued an apology to the families of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess, who were murdered in 2016 and 2021 respectively. They claimed the footage was "exploited and weaponised" in order to fuel "a co-ordinated smear campaign" against them on social media. During the weekend, the Metropolitan Police said it acknowledged "the impact this decision may have on MPs and their staff". "The safety and security of MPs is something that is taken extremely seriously across the whole of policing," they added. The footage was made available to the Metropolitan Police after Kneecap - made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh - criticised Israel's war in Gaza during a performance at the Coachella festival in April. This incident is separate to the case against Mr Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a gig in north London last year. Mr Ó hAnnaidh was granted unconditional bail after appearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month. The 27-year-old is due to appear in court again on 20 August. Mr Ó hAnnaidh has denied the allegations, describing them as "political" and intended to "silence" the group. It comes after Kneecap performed to thousands of fans at Glastonbury Festival. Their performance from the West Holts stage, which was aired live on the BBC but available to watch on the BBC iPlayer, saw Mr OhAnnaidh tell the crowd: "Glastonbury, I'm a free man." Kneecap led the chant "F**k Keir Starmer" after the British Prime Minister told Glastonbury organisers it was inappropriate for the band to be playing at the festival. Kneecap member Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap, said: "The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f**k Keir Starmer."
The Irish Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Teen, 15, pictured after Scots loch tragedy as family pays tribute to ‘loving, caring' son
A TEENAGER who died after going missing at a popular Scots beauty spot has been named as Alexander McNab. The 15-year-old's body was recovered from the water at Lochore Meadows, Fife, on Sunday afternoon — sparking an outpouring of grief from the tight-knit local community. Advertisement 2 Teenager Alexander McNab died after going missing at a popular Scots beauty spot 2 Emergency crews and police raced to the loch near Crosshill just after 1:20pm on June 29 Credit: Mark Ferguson Emergency crews and police raced to the loch near Crosshill just after 1:20pm on June 29, after desperate searches for the youngster who vanished while paddleboarding the day before. Cops confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragic death, and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. Heartbroken loved ones paid tribute to the 'bold, caring' lad, describing him as a shining light who touched everyone he met. In a statement issued through Police Scotland, Alexander's devastated family asked for privacy as they try to come to terms with the unimaginable loss. Advertisement They said: 'Alexander was much loved, caring, adventurous, bold, hard-working, ambitious and always looking out and caring for others. 'He is a much-loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, friend and boyfriend and a big part of his local community. 'Alexander will be forever missed by those that knew him and loved him. 'The family would appreciate privacy at this emotional time.' Advertisement Most read in The Scottish Sun Exclusive Detective Sergeant Duncan Thompson said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Alexander's family at this very distressing time and we have specialist officers supporting them.' Police confirmed last night a 'male youth' had been found in the water after a rescue team hunt at Lochore Meadows Country Park . Girl 'falls overboard from 4th deck of Disney Dream cruise ship' forcing dad to jump into water after her Force chiefs closed the airspace barring planes , helicopters and drones from flying over the beauty spot after a 'report of concern' for a person on 260-acre Loch Ore. It comes as a "drunk" speedboat driver was arrested after his boat crashed into a jet ski and killed a British woman in Spain. Advertisement The 43-year-old woman was riding a jet ski with her partner in Costa del Sol on Saturday evening when she was struck by the boat. Police said the speedboat crashed into the jet ski at 7.25pm on Saturday, at a beach called Los Toros - just west of the popular Spanish holiday resort of Estepona. The speedboat was driven by a friend of the couple's - who failed a breath test after the horror crash. A spokesperson for the Civil Guard in Malaga said: 'I can confirm the dead woman is a 43-year-old British national. Advertisement 'She was a passenger on the jet ski.' More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. Read more on the Irish Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Advertisement Like us on Facebook at
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Kneecap join Electric Picnic line-up
Kneecap have joined the bill for this year's Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois, organisers have announced. "This is going to be a special one," said the festival in a post on social media announcing that Kneecap had become part of the 29-31 August line-up. On Saturday, Kneecap led Glastonbury crowds in chants of "f*** Keir Starmer" during their set at the festival. The group - Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh - who hail from Belfast and Derry, have been in the headlines after member Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence in the UK. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a London gig in November last year. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on 20 August. In the run-up to the Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several British politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said their performance would not be "appropriate". Kneecap's Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap, told the Glastonbury crowd from the West Holts Stage on Saturday: "The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer." He also said a "big thank you to the Eavis family" who run the festival, saying "they stood strong" amid calls for the organisers to drop Kneecap from the line-up. The trio led crowds in chants of "Free Palestine", with Mo Chara commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival. In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, Ó Cairealláin said they would "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." Also on Saturday, Bob Vylan rapper Bobby Vylan led crowds at the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of: "Free, free Palestine" and: "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". The BBC said it "should have pulled" the live stream of the punk rap duo's performance during Glastonbury, as Bob Vylan's set contained "utterly unacceptable" and "anti-Semitic sentiments". Earlier, the BBC had confirmed it would not be live-streaming Kneecap's set. The performance was subsequently made available in edited form. Both Kneecap and Bob Vylan's controversial sets at the festival are being assessed by Avon and Somerset Police to decide whether any offences were committed.
