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Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Kneecap member charged with terror offences ahead of Welsh festival date
Kneecap member charged with terror offences ahead of Welsh festival date The Irish rap trio Kneecap has said that they "stand proudly with the people" after one of their members has been charged with a terror offence in the UK From right to left: Kneecap members Liam Og O Hannaigh (Mo Chara), JJ O'Dochartaigh (DJ Provai), and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) attending the UK premiere of Kneecap in London (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved ) Irish rap group Kneecap has labelled the terror offence charge against band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, a "political" move designed to "silence" them. Ó hAnnaidh was charged under the name Liam O'Hanna for displaying a Hezbollah-supporting flag during their performance at London's O2 Forum in Kentish Town on November 21 last year, PA reports. In response, Kneecap issued a statement via social media platform X on Thursday morning: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. "We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. "A charge not serious enough to even warrant their 'crown court', instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective?. "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. Article continues below "Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. "Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. "We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine." The trio are performing at this year's Green Man festival (Image: Parri Thomas - @photo_parri ) The charge comes ahead of the rap group's performance at Green Man Festival, which will be taking place between August 14 and August 17 this year. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . In April, the Powys festival organisers received calls for them to be pulled from Green Man line-up. Article continues below The trio apologised to the families of two murdered MPs, Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, after facing condemnation from Downing Street and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch when footage emerged from a gig appearing to show one member of Kneecap urging support for the killing of MPs. WalesOnline has approached Green Man Festival for a comment.
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
More calls for Kneecap to be dropped for Green Man Festival
There have been more calls for the Powys' Green Man festival to drop the controversial rap group Kneecap after one of its members was charged with terror offences. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27 who performs under the name Mo Chara, has been charged by the Metropolitan Police after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig. Welsh Conservative leader, Darren Millar MS, has demanded answers from the Chair and Managing Director of the Green Man Festival Fiona Stewart over whether the festival will still provide a platform to the group after a letter was sent by Gareth Davies MS. The trio have been the focus of attention of many Conservative politicians after footage was released of a member saying "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP" which led to Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans to call for the group to be dropped at the end of April. The group rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual" and apologised to families of assassinated MPs Jo Cox and David Amess. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32) Kneecap have been outspoken in their opposition to the war in Gaza and have accused the Israeli Government of genocide and the British Government of abetting 'slaughter and famine in Gaza'. The group have said they just displayed a flag that was thrown on stage and said they would 'vehemently' defend themselves in court. Yet Mr Millar claims that the festival is being hypocritical after Welsh musician Meic Stevens was dropped from the festival in 2019 after made comments about the number of Muslims in Wales. "It's completely unacceptable that the Green Man Festival has yet to respond to my colleague's request for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up, their silence speaks volumes, said Mr Millar. "This is a group that has openly called for the killing of MPs, and now one of its members faces serious terror-related charges linked to a proscribed organisation. "The festival previously acted swiftly to drop Meic Stevens over anti-Muslim remarks, yet they seem prepared to turn a blind eye in this far more serious case. "Green Man must be consistent in its values and withdraw Kneecap from the programme immediately. Anything less undermines the festival's credibility and risks endorsing extremism." Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app In a statement online Kneecap branded the charges as 'political policing and 'a carnival of distraction' adding that 'We are not the story. Genocide is.' The group cited the concerns which have been mounting in recent days over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN warned this week that 14,000 babies were in danger of starving to death if aid was not let into the strip and the Palestinian Health Authorities have estimated that 53,000 people in Gaza since October 2023.
South Wales Argus
15-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Ospreys return to Gilestone Farm mired in £4.25m controversy
Welsh ministers swooped to buy the farm in March 2022 as another home for the Green Man music festival, with the aim of supporting growth of the creative sector in Wales. But the plans were scrapped in early 2024 after a pair of ospreys were discovered, with ministers advised to establish a 750-metre restriction zone around their nest. Now, the Welsh Government has confirmed the ospreys – which are a protected species – have returned this spring, firmly placing an asterisk next to the farm's valuation. Andrew Slade, the Welsh Government's economy director general, provided an update in a letter published ahead of a Senedd public accounts committee meeting on May 14. Mr Slade said the farm was valued at £3.75m in March, with a comment on the valuation 'noting the presence of the ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty'. He told the committee the property continues to be leased on commercial terms via a farm business tenancy until November, with officials considering options beyond that. Mr Slade wrote: 'Members of the committee will appreciate the significance of the nesting ospreys at the site and I can confirm the ospreys have recently returned and within days of their arrival have laid an egg. 'The birds' welfare, and the protection of the nest, continue to be critical factors when considering future options for the site.' Mr Slade promised to write to the committee again when he can provide an update on firm proposals for the site, which is thought to generate about £32,000 a year in tenancy income. A 2023 Audit Wales review found ministers acted with 'avoidable haste' as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year's end. The public accounts committee is finalising its report on the saga following a nearly three-year inquiry into the decision made by then-economy minister Vaughan Gething. In a statement on the future of Gilestone Farm in January 2024, Mr Gething was confident a way forward for the site would be agreed by that spring. Two other ministers, Jeremy Miles and Julie James, had to take no part in decision making after attending a social event at a lobbyist's home alongside the Green Man festival's boss. Mark Drakeford, then-first minister, found no breach of the rules following an investigation into the informal gathering but accepted the 'risk of perceived conflict'.
