Kneecap's Mo Chara due in UK court for terrorism charge
A member of the Irish rap trio, Kneecap, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.
Last month British Police confirmed that Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence.
He is alleged to have displayed of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish town in north London on 21 November last year.
London's Metropolitan Police was made aware of an online video from the event last April.
An investigation was then carried out by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.
The 27-year-old was charged last month with displaying a flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation".
Mr Ó hAnnaidh has denied the allegations, describing them as "political" and intended to "silence" the group.
Kneecap has vowed to "vehemently" defend themselves and insist that the flag was "thrown" onto the stage.
They have also described the charges as a "carnival of distraction" from what is happening in Gaza.
In a social media statement last month, the group stated that the "anti-terror" law was being used against them "to restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out".
Mr Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.
Last week Kneecap announced Mr Ó hAnnaidh's legal team.
It comprises Gareth Peirce, solicitor for Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court.
His team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, who was part of South Africa's legal team in its case against Israel, accusing the country of genocide.
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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap's Mo Chara due in London court today on terrorism charges
Kneecap will dash from London on Wednesday to their gig in Dublin as member Mo Chara faces terrorism charges. The rapper, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court over the alleged displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah. It is alleged that Mo Chara waved the flag at the Belfast group's gig in London last November. The rap trio - which also consists of Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí - have denied any wrongdoing and said Ó hAnnaidh intends on defending the charge. After the court appearance, the group will have to dash back to Ireland as they take to the stage at Dublin's Fairview Park on Thursday. It will be one of the group's biggest solo gigs yet, as the outdoor venue has capacity for 8,000 people. The event has long been sold-out as Dublin singer Gemma Dunleavy and post-punk band Gurriers will support the Irish-language rappers. Speaking about the terrorism charges, Ó hAnnaidh said it is "political policing" and its intention is to stifle criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. At a London gig last month, the rapper said on-stage: "There's a reason why what's happened to me, happened before Glastonbury. There's a reason they're trying to f**king stop me speaking at Glastonbury in front of the UK." Despite calls for the group to be censored at the festival, organisers have confirmed that Kneecap will be playing Glastonbury on June 28. The Smiths musician Johnny Marr took to Instagram on Monday showing his support for the Belfast group. He wrote: "After learning that calls have been made for Kneecap to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it's important to make my own position clear. "I've played Glastonbury many times and the festival has always had a political aspect. It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism. I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine."
Sunday World
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Billboard appears in support of Kneecap ahead of court appearance
Johnny Marr also weighed in on the group's Glastonbury set hitting out at idea of censorship Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, last month. Pic: PA/PA Wire A billboard has appeared in London supporting the west Belfast band Kneecap, as one of its members prepares to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday on an alleged terror offence. The billboard was snapped in the Lambeth area of the city and shared by a number of users online, including Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard. The band's own account also shared the image of the billboard, which includes the phrase: 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara' set in the colours of the Irish Tricolour. The phrase included in the billboard appears to be a parody of the historical racist slogan seen across parts of England in the 1960s which included the phrase 'no blacks, no dogs, no Irish'. Mr Hazard shared an image of the billboard on his Facebook account, captioning the photo: 'Spotted in London.' It comes as Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh prepares to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday on an alleged terror offence. The 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Meanwhile, a former guitarist from 1980s rock band The Smiths backed Kneecap amid calls for their set at the Glastonbury Festival to be censored. There had previously been calls for the controversial Irish language rap group's set at the famous festival to be cancelled amid a furore sparked by their pro-Palestine display at US festival Coachella in April. During the gig, the band – made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí) and Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Moghlaí Bap) – led the crowd in chants of 'free, free Palestine'. A message reading: 'F**k Israel. Free Palestine' was also unveiled. The billboard in Lambeth News in 90 Seconds - June 17 Soon after the gig, footage emerged allegedly showing a band member calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. The group subsequently apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. Posting a message on his social media channels, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr said calls for Kneecap's Glastonbury set to be cancelled were not in keeping with the festival's 'free expression'. "After learning that calls have been made for Kneecap to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it's important that I make my own position clear,' he said. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content "I've played Glastonbury many times and the festival has always had a political aspect. "It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism and it's a fact that I agreed to play there with The Smiths in 1984 purely because to do so at the time was a political act. "We are living through very troubling times, but for anyone who's been interested in me or my music over the last 40 years, I feel like my political stance has always been very clear. "Oppression fears artistic expression. I respect all musicians who use their platform to speak out against injustice, who promote compassion and equality and give voice to the voiceless. "I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine.' Last week, the band announced details of the high-profile legal team that will represent Mo Chara over the alleged terror offence, referring to them as 'An Scothfhoireann – The Dream Team'. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, last month. Pic: PA/PA Wire Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law heads up the team alongside Gareth Peirce of Binberg Peirce, who has previously defended the Birmingham Six and the Guilford Four, as well as appearing for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The team also includes Brenda Campbell KC, who represented the families of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, and freedom of expression expert Jude Bunting KC. Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, who appeared before the International Court of Justice on behalf of South Africa against Israel in relation to the genocide in Gaza, is also in the ranks, with free speech, national security and crime expert Rosalyn Comyn completing the line-up. In an Instagram post the group added: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court. "We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.'
