Kneecap receive rockstar reception after terrorism charge court hearing
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, and his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and J J O Dochartaigh were cheered by hundreds of supporters as they arrived in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Dozens surged around the entrance of the court building as they made their way inside, with some also entering the lobby before the hearing, trying to get close to the Belfast trio.
O hAnnaidh was charged last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
The court heard the 27-year-old is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a 'wholly different thing'.
After the brief hearing concluded, the defendant exited the court building to a festival-like atmosphere, with fans waving flags, playing drums and one supporter setting off a smoke canister.
During the hearing, the allegations against O hAnnaidh were summarised by prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, who said: 'It's not about Mr O hAnnaidh's support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.
'He's well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else.
'The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.
'Of course, support for the one is not the same as support for the other.
'So the issue in this case, and the reason it has come to court, it centres on the apparent support by Mr O hAnnaidh of a proscribed terrorist organisation.'
Wearing a dark zip-up jacket and trousers, the defendant spoke briefly to confirm his identity at the beginning of the hearing.
Hundreds of fans, along with journalists, crammed against the doors of the court building as they waited for the performer to leave.
Outside court following the hearing, O hAnnaidh's bandmate, Mr O Caireallain, led the huge crowds in chants of 'Free Palestine'.
Wearing sunglasses and a keffiyeh, Mr O Caireallain said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday.
'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September.
'But most importantly: free, free Palestine.'
O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Jodie Comer says being led by Danny Boyle in 28 Years Later was a ‘proper dream'
Comer, who is best known for playing the antagonist Villanelle in the hit BBC series Killing Eve, was speaking at the 28 Years Later world premiere in Leicester Square on Wednesday evening. 28 Years Later is set in the same world as the 2002 apocalyptic horror 28 Days Later, which saw Cillian Murphy play a bicycle courier who awakes from a coma to discover the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society. The new instalment follows on almost three decades since the virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, where some have found a way to exist amid the infected despite an enforced quarantine. When one of the group leaves the gated island they are residing on for a mission to the mainland, they discover secrets and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. Comer features in the film alongside Ralph Fiennes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Comer said on Wednesday: 'I was honoured when I got this script through. 'And you know, with the opportunity to sit down with Danny, who's a filmmaker who I've admired for a very long time, and to be kind of led by him and be on one of his sets is a proper dream.' She added that Boyle leads a 'calm, playful, fun' set. 28 Years Later will be screened in cinemas from Friday.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Jodie Comer says being led by Danny Boyle in 28 Years Later was a ‘proper dream'
Comer, who is best known for playing the antagonist Villanelle in the hit BBC series Killing Eve, was speaking at the 28 Years Later world premiere in Leicester Square on Wednesday evening. 28 Years Later is set in the same world as the 2002 apocalyptic horror 28 Days Later, which saw Cillian Murphy play a bicycle courier who awakes from a coma to discover the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society. The new instalment follows on almost three decades since the virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, where some have found a way to exist amid the infected despite an enforced quarantine. When one of the group leaves the gated island they are residing on for a mission to the mainland, they discover secrets and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. Comer features in the film alongside Ralph Fiennes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Comer said on Wednesday: 'I was honoured when I got this script through. 'And you know, with the opportunity to sit down with Danny, who's a filmmaker who I've admired for a very long time, and to be kind of led by him and be on one of his sets is a proper dream.' She added that Boyle leads a 'calm, playful, fun' set. 28 Years Later will be screened in cinemas from Friday.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
TV star's extreme parenting move she's too scared to tell other mums, director's savage comment on nepo baby star, plus which politician is making an eye-watering £55k an HOUR exposed: RICHARD EDEN'S DIARY
On the hit BBC show Dragons' Den, her empathy while dealing with entrepreneurs has earned her a reputation as 'the nicest dragon'. But at her Teesside home, some things are non-negotiable for Sara Davies.
