Kneecap's Mo Chara expected to request Irish translator at court hearing

The National

5 hours ago

O hAinnaidh, stage name Mo Chara, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
During the brief hearing, it was reported that the 27-year-old wanted to speak in Irish during the court hearing, but the judge said the court was unable to find a translator at that time.
Kneecap's manager, Daniel Lambert, said on social media that the 'entire public gallery laughed' following the judge's request for a translator as people pointed to fellow Kneecap member DJ Provai, real name J J O Dochartaigh.
READ MORE: 'Free Mo Chara': Kneecap fans raise thousands for legal battle amid terror charge
Lambert wrote on X/Twitter: 'Funniest moment of today.
'The magistrate (judge) said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish translator.
''If anyone knows of one….' he said.
'The entire public gallery laugh and all point at DJ Próvaí (JJ) at the same time.'
O hAinnaidh is expected to ask to be allowed to speak in Irish at the next hearing in August.
Under the rules, O hAinnaidh's request may be denied as an interpreter is only normally provided in criminal cases where a defendant does not understand English.
However, judges do have considerable say as to what happens in courts they are presiding over and may decide to allow the defendant to speak Irish, leading to the need for an interpreter.
O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
He received a round of applause outside the courtroom after the short hearing.
A crowd of supporters had surged around the entrance of Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday in support of O hAnnaidh as they waved banners in support of the musician along with Palestinian flags.