Kneecap ‘happy to apologise in person' to daughter of murdered Tory MP
The group's manager, Daniel Lambert, suggested that the footage emerged because the group criticised Israel over the war in Gaza.
The manager of rappers Kneecap says they are happy to apologise in person to the daughter of murdered Conservative MP David Amess after the controversy over a chant of 'kill your local MP'.
The hip-hop group have already published an online apology to the families of Mr Amess and Labour MP Jo Cox after footage from a gig allegedly showed one member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.'
Katie Amess said she was 'absolutely heartbroken' after seeing the clip from a performance in November 2023. She said it had 'brought back so much pain and upset'.
She said she would be willing to meet the group and tell them how her life has been 'obliterated' by her father's death.
The group's manager, Daniel Lambert, told Newstalk: 'The lads are happy to talk to that lady. The lads are happy to meet with that lady. The lads are happy to apologise to that lady.'
Ms Amess has urged a 'thorough investigation to determine the full extent of any criminal activity' and said it 'is imperative that individuals and groups are held accountable for their words and actions that incite violence and hatred'.
Mr Lambert suggested that the footage emerged because the group criticised Israel over the war in Gaza during their recent performance at the Coachella festival in the US.
He told The Pat Kenny Show: 'You've got to focus on this. Why has this emerged? Kneecap went to Coachella and Kneecap said at Coachella, facts. Facts about what happened (in Gaza).
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'And you know what happened as a response? All of this.'
Earlier this week, Brendan Cox, whose wife was murdered in 2016, called Kneecap's statement 'only half an apology'.
Counter-terrorism officers are investigating the footage from November 2023 as well as another piece of footage from last November that appears to show one of them shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.
The Northern Irish band posted a statement online saying they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK.
Yesterday, Kneecap teased new music and posted an image on X of one of them wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, saying: 'New track coming soon… stay tuned… lock down your aerial.'
Several upcoming Kneecap shows in Europe have been cancelled by promoters and Jewish groups, while former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for them to be dropped from the Glastonbury line-up next month.
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