Kneecap star released on bail until next hearing as fans applaud outside courtroom

Sunday World

5 hours ago

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with a terrorism offence
People with placards in support of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
Liam Óg Ó 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.
Westminster Magistrates' 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'.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him he must attend court on that day.
Summarising the allegations against Ó hAnnaidh, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court: 'It's not about Mr Ó 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, Ó 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 Ó 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.
He was greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at court on Wednesday morning alongside the other two members of the Belfast rap trio – Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh.
Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Credit: PA wire
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He received a round of applause outside the courtroom after the short hearing.
Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and J J O 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 Ó hAnnaidh.
The members of Kneecap walked up the stairs of the court and looked over the balcony, smiling and giving a thumbs up to their hundreds of supporters gathered outside.
A crowd of supporters had surged around the entrance of the court as the band arrived, with some also entering the lobby.
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.
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.
Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
The charge Ó 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.
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'.
The Irish rap group kneecap has said it has 'plastered' London with messages of support for one of its members who is due to appear in court accused of a terrorism offence.
Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh is due in court on Wednesday (PA)
Charles Parker, 35, said protesting was important to him because he believed in 'freedom of speech'.
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.'
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.
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 Ó 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, Ó 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.