Hundreds greet Kneecap rapper as he arrives at court on terror charge
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.
Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where he arrived on Wednesday, as well as in Dublin.
The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court can take place, saying they are needed to 'prevent serious disruption'.
Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he is charged with a terrorism offence. Picture: Ben Whitley/PA Wire
Mr Ó hAnnaidh was swamped by photographers as he arrived, with security officers taking more than a minute to usher him into the court building.
Hundreds of supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people-carrier to the building.
Fans held signs which read 'Free Mo Chara' while others waved Palestine and Irish flags before the rapper's arrival at court.
Supporters await the arrival of Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he is charged with a terrorism offence. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Chants of 'free, free, Mo Chara' could also be heard over a megaphone, which was repeated by the crowd.
In response to the Met imposing conditions on the protest, Kneecap described this move as a 'calculated political decision' that was 'designed to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome', and 'asked supporters to go out of your way to be compliant with all instructions issued, irrespective of how pitiful'.
Mr Ó hAnnaidh received a rockstar welcome when he appeared at the same court in June, supported by fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.
Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (centre blue cap) arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he is charged with a terrorism offence. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
He was greeted by a festival-like atmosphere for his first court appearance, with dozens of fans waving flags, playing drums and one supporter setting off a smoke canister.
The court previously heard the 27-year-old defendant is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, was a 'wholly different thing'.
Mr Ó hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge.
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Irish Examiner
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Irish Examiner view: Kneecap and the debate over free speech
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The Journal
6 hours ago
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'The British state is on edge': Kneecap's second day in court sees police action and legal wrangling
Rónán Duffy Reports from Westminster Magistrates' Court IF MO CHARA'S last appearance before a British court was marked by a party-like atmosphere today's was a more serious affair, if still just as loud. This vibe shift was clear both inside and outside the courtroom with Met Police confirming that a man was arrested outside on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action. Protests outside ahead of Mo Chara's court appearance. Rónán Duffy / The Journal Rónán Duffy / The Journal / The Journal The newly proscribed organisation has become a lightning rod for the debate around pro-Palestine activism in the UK, with hundreds arrested since it became listed as a terror organisation on 5 July, putting it on a par with organisations like Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Police had signalled that a tougher approach was being used for this court appearance last night when they said that Public Order Act conditions were being put in place. In reality that meant that protesters were confined to a particular section of the thoroughfare, and operationally it meant that there were many more police present. Numerous Kneecap balaclavas were on display among the protesters. Rónán Duffy / The Journal Rónán Duffy / The Journal / The Journal It didn't stop hundreds turning out to chant 'Free Mo Chara', blare music, hold placards and hand out flyers for the next protest. Unlike the last time though, police were quicker to intervene to direct people where to go and the entire event wound down more quickly once Mo Chara had finished in court. Mo Chara spoke when he left the court building, as did bandmate Móglaí Bap, but their speeches were shorter and contained none of the bombast heard in June about Glastonbury gigs to come. Mo Chara speaks to the crowd outside Westminster Magistrates' Court. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Instead there was almost a sense of frustration that the same slogans were being repeated when the situation in Gaza has become so much worse. 'Obviously it's great to see the support out here. Obviously we know that the story is more than just about me, more than about Kneecap,' Mo Chara told the crowd. This is a story about Palestine and us as a distraction from the real story. We know unfortunately this story will end up in the media today while Israel commits genocide at the same time. 'So everybody continue to speak about Palestine, Free Palestine, thank you for coming and tiocfaidh ár lá.' Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was speaking after a three-hour court hearing that was heavy with legal argument that will determine if he has to face a full trial for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. There was no ruling today but Judge Paul Goldspring has set 26 September as the date on which he'll deliver his ruling on that question. Brenda Campbell KC, for Ó hAnnaidh, and prosecutor Michael Bisgrove both made their cases citing case law about when exactly a charge against a person is legally recognised for the purposes of determining if it is inside or outside the time limit. The dense legalese caused some in the packed public gallery to leave before it was finished but Ó hAnnaidh was engaged throughout and was frequently seen looking through documentation with the Irish language interpreter he was provided with. The other members of Kneecap and their manager Daniel Lambert were also seated in court. Unlike the previous occasion when they giggled in the public gallery about whether Kneecap's DJ Provaí could be an interpreter, there were no light-hearted moments here. Advertisement If there was any such merriment in advance, it was quickly dampened by the legal arguments anyway. Time limit The date of the alleged offence is 21 November 2024 and the six-month limit for prosecuting therefore runs until 21 May 2025. Campbell told the court the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on May 21. She said consent was given the following day, but that meant the charge falls outside of the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. Ó hAnnaidh was not arrested before being charged and was instead charged by way of a postal requisition. This method means that an individual is informed of a charge they face by post and Campbell argued that the timing of the requisition has a bearing on when proceedings are instituted. Police closed off Marylebone Road for a period today due to the scale of the protest. Rónán Duffy / TheJournal Rónán Duffy / TheJournal / TheJournal Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove argued in court that the charge was issued by police on the day of the deadline, 21 May. He said permission was not required until the defendant's first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge. The judge asked various questions of both lawyers during their submissions but more questions were asked of Campbell. Ending today's proceedings, the judge noted that everyone was keen on a 'speedy resolution' to the legal questions but he asked that people grant him some time to make a decision. He therefore set 26 September as the date on which he would issue a ruling, stressing in case anyone was confused that this was his decision on the time-limit question alone and not on the merits of the case. Cat handing out UK communist newspaper Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! The Journal The Journal Back outside, the protesters waited for Mo Chara's appearance. Among them were some of the same faces present back in June. London student Sarah Cotte ,who is originally from France, is herself facing two charges similar to Mo Chara for allegedly of expressing support for Hamas in a speech at a London university. Speaking on stage to the crowd she said that terror legislation in the UK is primarily used against immigrant communities. Speaking afterwards to The Journal , Cotte said that terror label is so politically charged that it restricts debate. 'The reality is that it's people's rights of free speech, people's right to protest which are being restricted, which are being infringed upon,' she said. And if we can't get past the terrorism label, then I'm not sure what else, you know, there is for us to do. The reality is that that label is so politically charged and so racially charged as well. 'Terrorism legislation has always been used, since its first inception, to terrorise communities fighting back against British imperialism, whether that be the Irish, whether that be immigrant communities, whether that be people standing up for Palestinian liberation. So it's never been about keeping us safe. It's always been about keeping those in power safe.' Cotte's case is back in court for a hearing in the Old Bailey on 24 October and she urged supporters to join a protest on that date. Related Reads Police corral hundreds of protesters as Kneecap's Mo Chara returns to court to face UK terror charge Opinion: The British political class has it in for Kneecap - they just don't get it Kneecap: What's the terror charge 'Mo Chara' is facing, what's the defence and the sentence? Others who made a return trip to London today to support Mo Chara included Northern Ireland-based Irish-language coalition An Dream Dearg. Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin of the group pointed to the 'hypocrisy' of Mo Chara facing charges as people openly support proscribed organisations in Northern Ireland. 'There's stark hypocrisy in terms of how that's being conducted, because we're from a part of this jurisdiction, if you like, within the UK, where people regularly wear t-shirts, wave flags, carry the emblems or prescribed organisations, many times this is facilitated by this by the State in the form of marches, through certain areas,' he told The Journal . Mac Giolla Bhéin also referred to the arrest that took place today of the protester for allegedly supporting Palestine Action. 'It's authoritarianism and it's important for everyone, whether or not you agree with the stance on Palestine Action, that anyone who believes in living in a free and democratic society, must challenge it and to call it out.' Another protester who commented on the increased police presence was Cat from Communist newspaper Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!. 'I think the clear popularity of what Kneecap is saying and linking really strongly to the historic struggle in Ireland against British colonisation and the occupation in Palestine has put the British state on edge,' she said. 'They're able to speak the truth very clearly about this continued pattern of Britain supporting occupation, repression and genocide. And I think it puts a British state on edge and I expect that's why there are more police now. Cat added that she felt there is now a 'groundswell of support against British collusion with genocide' and what she said is the use of the Terrorism Act against non-violent organisations. Connolly's book store in Dublin Gráinne Ferris and Rache Gerrard at the protest in Dublin today, Andrew Walsh / TheJournal Andrew Walsh / TheJournal / TheJournal In Dublin, around 200 people also gathered at Connolly Books in Temple Bar this afternoon for a 'Solidarity Seisiún' for Mo Chara, with musicians including Irish-Palestinian singer Róisín El Cherif performing. Outside, protesters voiced their support for Mo Chara in his ongoing court case. Protestors Gráinne Ferris and Rachel Gerrard spoke highly of Kneecap, as well as other Irish acts that have been vocally supportive of Palestine. 'At the moment, [Mo Chara] is speaking loud and clear, supporting Palestine, as well as the likes of Hozier and Christie Moore,' Ferris said. It's vital, because they have huge international fan bases, and hopefully they'll continue to do so in the face of a genocide. Outside the bookshop, Scotland native Angela Doyle handed out mock postcards in support of Palestine Action. She likened Ó hAnnaidh's case to the ongoing crackdown on UK protests in support of Palestine Action . 'We know that laws like this spread – we just wanted to do something small to make a difference,' Doyle said. - With reporting by Andrew Walsh in Dublin 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
