Kneecap member to appear in court accused of terrorism offence
A member of Belfast rap group Kneecap is due to appear in court this morning accused of a terrorism offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
The 27-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning following the alleged incident during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London.
The charge Og O hAnnaidh faces alleges he displayed a flag in a public place, 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation' – namely Hezbollah.
Kneecap described the prosecution as a 'witch hunt' in a post on X on Tuesday evening.
The post including a short video which appeared to show a billboard that had been displayed in London with the words 'more blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara'.
The Metropolitan Police said the force had charged O hAnnaidh, who appears on the court list as Liam O'Hanna, after initially being made aware of a video from the gig at the O2 Forum which had been posted online.
In a separate event shortly after the terrorism charge, O hAnnaidh could be seen in social media videos entering the stage with tape covering his mouth.
The Met previously said the Belfast rap trio were under investigation after clips posted online appeared to show the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.
Kneecap said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J J Ó Dochartaigh arrived to a scrum of hundreds of their supporters who cheered as their vehicle pulled up.
The band were wearing 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts as they arrived at the central London court – Mo Chara being the stage name of Og O hAnnaidh.
Police removed a pro-Israel protester who walked into the crowd outside court wearing an Israeli flag which provoked boos, swearing and shouts of 'free Palestine'.
The crowd became animated and shouted 'Israel is a terrorist state' and 'take him out for his own safety' as he made gestures and argued with protesters.
Police surrounded the man as the crowd moved towards him, with protesters cheering as he was removed.
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: 'While Benjamin Netanyahu, his rogue regime, and an out-of-control military continue to violate international law and commit war crimes, it is Kneecap — not the war criminals — who are being dragged before the courts.
'This is the same British justice system that stays silent on the British government's complicity in Israel's brutal and relentless assault on the defenceless people of Gaza.
'Today, I'll be speaking out against these glaring double standards and standing in solidarity with Liam Óg.
'Kneecap's courage in calling out Israel's genocide in Palestine, despite the full weight of the western establishment against them, deserves recognition and support. They are on the right side of history.'
The composite engineer from Northamptonshire said: 'I believe in freedom for Palestine.
'I come from an Irish Republican background and Palestine helped us in the 1990s.
'We stand by those who stand by us.
'I have been a fan of Kneecap since I saw them in Belfast about five years ago.
'I'm open to whatever may happen. If the Metropolitan Police do anything, you've got to be ready for anything.'
Many carried placards of support as well as Palestinian and Irish flags and set up banners on the railings positioned by the court.
A group leader chanted 'free, free' to which the crowd responded 'Palestine' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'.
Groups including Love Music Hate Racism set up tables distributing placards, stickers, posters and T-shirts.
Fans could be seen with placards saying Free Mo Chara, referring to the rapper's stage name, and Defend Kneecap.
A large green flag saying Free Speech, Free Palestine was also on display.
The small crowd cheered as an ad van emblazoned with the support slogan used for Mo Chara – More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara – drove past the court.
Copywriter Victoria Ashworth and her daughter Lily travelled from their home in Brighton to attend the protest before the court hearing for Liam Og O hAnnaidh.
Ms Ashworth, 53, said: 'I just feel like the charges are utterly ridiculous. I believe in freedom of speech.
'We want to be part of this to be on the right side of history.
'We have been fans of the music for quite a while.'
Lily, 20, a university student, added: 'They're allowed to have their own voice and shutting them down doesn't seem fair.'
She said she heard about the protest on social media and from various fan groups.
A handful of Kneecap fans gathered outside court on Wednesday morning with a mixture of Palestinian and Kneecap flags.
A microphone stand was being set up behind metal barriers that had been erected to create an area for fans, PA report.
Austrian Alexandra Kennedy, who had travelled from her home country to show support, said: 'I think that Kneecap are important to so many people that if Liam Og O hAnnaidh gets a heavy sentence, then maybe people will lose something, they need the connection to Kneecap.
'They trigger good and they trigger strong feelings.'
She said many of Kneecap's fans seek solace in their music while suffering mental health issues.
Ms Kennedy said the rap group should 'be aware of the social responsibility they have. It's not only music, it's much more than this'.
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