
Behind the Story: Kneecap court scenes, Iran, and EuroMillions advice!
Westminster Magistrates' Court had never seen a scene like it - that's what one reporter told the Irish Times after a massive crowd turned up to support Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh as he appeared charged under the UK's anti-terror legislation.
Tunes were blaring, chants were sung, and there was a bit of humour inside the room after the rapper's legal team suggested he might need an Irish interpreter for his trial.
In the latest episode of Behind the Story, RTÉ's man in London, Tommy Meskill, helped Fran McNulty, Katie Hannon and David McCullagh unpack it all.
The trio also took a look at Iran, as Donald Trump has proclaimed "I may do it, I may not do it" when asked if the US was going to join Israel in striking the country.
As all this happens abroad, there's also the smaller matter of Tuesday's €250 million EuroMillions jackpot, which we now know was sold at a retail outlet in Munster.
The trio wade through some of today's articles on the big win, and what newsreader Sharon Tobin might do with all of that money.
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The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island star gets VERY sexy invitation minutes after bombshell enters villa before awkward snub – did you spot it?
MOMENTS after entering the Love Island villa as a hunky bombshell, Harrison made a cheeky comment. American girl Toni, 24, is now romantically involved with new boy Harrison, 22, after he picked her over Malisha, meaning she was brutally dumped from the Island. Advertisement 6 Toni showed Harrison around the villa Credit: ITV 6 She showed him the showers Credit: ITV 6 He made a suggestive comment before she brushed it off and seemingly snubbed him Credit: ITV 6 The pair still got cosy under the covers Credit: ITV While showing the new boy around the stunning villa, Toni got a very sexy invitation. Minutes after bombshell Harrison entered the villa, he gave Toni a proposition that left her chuckling and red-faced. Harrison said something about how everyone seemingly showered separately and then insinuated he wanted to shower with American beauty Toni. Showing him around the villa, Toni said to Harrison: "The showers." Advertisement Read More about Love Island "Shower one at a time?" he exclaimed. Toni laughed and said: "Yes." "That's a shame," Harrison replied before following Toni out of the bathroom. They then got ready for bed before getting into a single bed together and cuddling up. Advertisement Most read in Love Island "Why's Harrison making everything so sexual so soon?" asked one person on X, moments after his arrival and shower comment. "All the sexual stuff is just weird as hell," said a second. Love Island star dumped by bombshell Harrison in cruel twist "Every other word is innuendo," penned a third. But others loved the vibe Harrison has brought to the villa already. Advertisement "Harrison just came 15 minutes ago and he has more personality than more than half of the boys," said one. "Waittt Toni and Harrison are actually cute," penned a second. Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. : An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : Beauty salon owner from Devon who runs 12 aesthetics clinics, boasting a famous clientele including former Love Islanders. : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell . : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. A third then added: "Toni and Harrison are already the best couple in there!!!!" This comes after the new Islander was faced with choosing between and Malisha , after they . Advertisement They both then went on a date with , who would ultimately decide who will return to the villa and who will be going home. After the footballer chose Toni and Malisha was dumped, fans went wild. Many now want Malisha back for Casa Amor, with viewers making the plea on social media. On X, one person wrote: 'Justice for Malisha, bring her back for Casa." Advertisement A second added: 'I'd love to see Malisha come back for Casa and make everyone squirm." And a third said: 'Malisha didn't even get a proper send her off. Bring her back for Casa?" 6 Harrison is the new hunky bombshell Credit: Eroteme 6 He picked Toni, which left Malisha single and dumped Credit: Eroteme Advertisement

The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Inside and outside the Kneecap courtroom: Film directors, The Fields of Athenry, and a few police
Rónán Duffy reports from London The Journal / YouTube MARYLEBONE ROAD IN central London is a busy thoroughfare on any morning, but today a section of it was completely thronged, thanks to Kneecap's ability to draw an audience. The crowd was noisy and numbered in several hundred – but confined as it was to the path and the area immediately outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, from within it, it felt like more. There was some pushing, given the numbers and the tight space available. A small but visible police presence prevented the protest from spilling over onto rush hour traffic. Around the corner, there was a much larger fleet of police vans, presumably on standby, but the full contingent was not required or deployed. 'Spancil Hill' and 'The Fields of Athenry' Outside the court building, there was even a stage erected to provide the tunes. 'Spancil Hill' and 'The Fields of Athenry' got an airing before the mic was handed to high-profile solicitor Darragh Mackin, once the legal business of the day was done. Kneecap's Moglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) also addressed the crowd and attendant media to big up the band's upcoming – and, in the UK, controversial – performance at Glastonbury. '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. Smoke bombs were let off as Kneecap exited the court. TheJournal TheJournal The man of the moment, Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), did not speak outside, speaking only briefly inside the court to confirm his identity . Inside the packed courtroom, such was the number of journalists that media spilled over from the press benches to the public gallery, there were no spare seats once the hearing began. Also in the public gallery were Mo Chara's bandmates and their manager, Daniel Lambert, who were seated with film director Trevor Birney, who produced the Kneecap film. Film director Jim Sheridan was also in the public gallery. Speaking to The Journal , Sheridan said he 'knows the lads', meaning Kneecap, after attending their gigs and meeting them at the Irish Film and Television Awards. Sheridan directed In The Name of the Father, about the Guildford Four miscarriage of justice, which featured Emma Thompson as human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce. Peirce is now a member of Kneecap's legal team and Sheridan said that knows her too. The Journal / YouTube Ó hÁnnaidh is being prosecuted under the anglicised name O'Hanna and chief magistrate Paul Goldspring referenced Ó hAnnaidh's Irish name. Goldspring said that unsuccessful attempts were made to have an Irish language interpreter present in court today but that 'we'll try and sort one' for the next court date on 20 August. Ó hAnnaidh's team confirmed that he speaks English but said it's his second language, and they therefore formally requested an interpreter for the next hearing. Northern Ireland-based Irish-language coalition An Dream Dearg had members both inside and outside the courtroom supporting Mo Chara. The hearing was delayed by almost an hour such was the chaos that greeted the band's arrival. Ó hAnnaidh arriving at court today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A van emblazoned with the words 'More blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara' did laps of the area, drawing cheers each time it passed by. The arrival of Kneecap was heralded by a post on their Instagram stories which said they were '20 mins away a chairde Gael'. Given the traffic and general madness of the entire scene the band arrived bang on 10am and had to force their way through the crowd of protesters and media to the glass doors of the court building. Mo Chara was wearing a keffiyeh scarf around his neck and dark sunglasses. Advertisement The third member of the band, DJ Provaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh), was wearing his trademark tricolour balaclava and was able to wear the balaclava inside the court building for a number of minutes before a member of security told him he would have to remove it to walk through the metal detectors. About 20 people spilled into the building along with Kneecap, while about 50 more were content with staying in the narrow foyer between the metal detectors and the doors. The scene outside the courthouse as Mo Chara arrived. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Met Police inside the building kept a distance from the scrum, although they reminded supporters that there was strictly no photography allowed inside the building. The actual hearing lasted about 15 minutes and was adjourned until 20 August, when both sides will present arguments relating to a dispute over the jurisdiction of the court. The dispute relates to the time period between the date of the alleged offence on 21 November 2024 and Ó hAnnaidh being charged in May 2025. Brenda Campbell, for Ó hAnnaidh, said his team would be arguing that the charge was brought outside the six-month limit and that if this is found to be the case the prosecution would fall. The judge agreed that this would be the case should the defence win the argument on the disputed dates. During the hearing, the allegations against Ó hAnnaidh were summarised by prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, who said: '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, Mr Ó hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. Outside Rónán Duffy / X (Formerly Twitter) After the hearing, Kneecap emerged from the courthouse when Mackin took to the makeshift stage. There, Mackin framed the case as one about freedom of expression. 'Oppression fears the freedom of expression, but the reality is Kneecap will stand up for freedom of expression and defend not only their rights but the rights of artists all around the world,' he said. Do not be afraid, we are on the right side of history. Fifty-one people were shot an killed yesterday in Gaza as they queued for flour. 'If the British government had any sense of history, they will know they have already lost.' Many people present at today's protest expressed similar sentiments, saying the case was about the right to freedom of expression and freedom to protest. Several referenced the fact that while Mo Chara is getting significant publicity for the charges he is facing, other pro-Palestine protesters are facing similar charges – and are being held on remand in some cases. Pepper, from Essex, attended the protest with her friend Kiki. 'It's really important to protect the right to free speech and standing up against the genocide in Palestine, especially with the pro-Palestine prisoners right now. 'Activists in general are getting criminalised and called terrorists for no reason. Meanwhile, the UK government is getting away with so much, so many war crimes. They're complicit and actively participating in the genocide,' Kiki said. Kiki and Pepper from Essex. The Journal The Journal Pepper, said they were both fans of Kneecap and had been to see them at the Wide Awake Festival in London a few weeks ago. 'We wanted to be here to not let Mo Chara go down quietly or let this slip under the radar, because that's not fair. 'It is completely hypocritical, considering all the time, effort, and money that's going into it. I'm really happy everyone showed up today to make an example of how ridiculous it is, and to highlight what we really need to be focusing on,' she said. Andrea Torrejon, originally from Spain but now living in the UK, said Kneecap were targeted after they spoke out at Coachella and people then 'dug up' clips from a concert months before. 'I think the fact is they were trying to bring up stuff that happened last year, just because they dared to speak out at a concert, a concert where other people also spoke out,' she said. 'They went through Twitter, they went through everything. It makes no sense, and it's really worrying not just for them, but for everyone.' 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


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island star dumped by bombshell Harrison in cruel twist – as fans demand they're brought BACK for Casa Amor
LOVE Island star Malisha has been dumped by bombshell Harrison in a cruel twist - as fans have demanded they're brought back for Casa Amor. Last night's explosive episode saw the new Islander faced with choosing between 4 A Love Island star has been dumped by bombshell Harrison in a cruel twist Credit: ITV 4 Toni was triumphant on the date Credit: Eroteme 4 It's goodbye to Malisha after Harrison chose Toni instead Credit: Eroteme They both then went on a date with Viewers watched as the footballer sat down to meet both of the girls. And tonight, the footballer made his decision and picked Toni to stay in the villa, sending Malisha home as a result. The cruel twist has left fans gobsmacked, but many had already predicted the result and now want Malisha back for Casa Amor. Read More on Love Island On X, one person wrote: 'Justice for Malisha, bring her back for Casa." A second added: 'I'd love to see Malisha come back for Casa and make everyone squirm." And a third said: 'Malisha didn't even get a proper send her off. Bring her back for Casa?" Yesterday, after watching both dates play out, fans immediately picked up on a HUGE clue who Most read in Love Island During his date with Toni, it was revealed that they both attended the same college in Florida, which fans think make it "obvious" he is going to pick her. Furious Love Island viewers slam cliffhanger ending after MAJOR twist sees star dumped by bombshell just moments after meeting And low and behold, he did. Viewers also picked up on the fact that they had "more chemistry" than he had with Malisha, and said this "gave away" who he will choose. Plus, before going in the villa, ans immediately headed to X/Twitter to share their theory, with one saying: "They set up Malisha omg sending in a guy who lives in America and likes American girls wtf #LoveIsland." Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. : An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : Beauty salon owner from Devon who runs 12 aesthetics clinics, boasting a famous clientele including former Love Islanders. : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell . : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. "Lives in Miami? This is our guy for Toni #LoveIsland," said another. This one tweeted: "I feel like his date with Toni went a bit smoother than with Malisha and they obvs have a better connection but who knows…" Another said: "He has way more chemistry with Toni plus he loves American girls and they went too the same college - so obvious." 4 Toni and Malisha went on the date with Harrison after failing to couple up with anyone Credit: Shutterstock Editorial