Latest news with #LiamÓgÓHannaidh
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Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Irish hip hop group dropped from TRNSMT lineup due to Police Scotland concerns
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap are still scheduled to headline Wide Awake festival in London on Friday evening despite member Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh being charged with a terror offence. | Getty Images for BFI Announcement comes after an intervention from Police Scotland last week, issuing a statement saying Kneecap performing at TRNSMT festival would require a significant police operation. Ticket holders were told this evening that the group will not be performing at the July concert in Glasgow Green. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Irish hip hop band Kneecap have been taken off the line-up for this year's TRNSMT festival at Glasgow Green. The promoter, DF Concerts, issued an update to all ticket holders this evening: 'Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap will no longer perform at TRNSMT on Friday, 11 July. We thank fans for their understanding.' Having weathered the intervention of politicians following their appearance at Coachella, support of Palestine and criticism of Israel, the band's scheduled performance in the festival lineup has now been cancelled due to the position of Police Scotland that Kneecap's performance would require a significant policing operation that would be incompatible with the promoter's plan for the opening day of the festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last week, a police spokesperson said: "There was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked. Officers have highlighted the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event. We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival." Consultation with police before the booking of music acts for a festival in Glasgow is not considered to be common practice. When asked for comment this evening, Police Scotland provided the same statement. Kneecap immediately announced a gig at Glasgow's O2 Academy on confirmation of the lineup change: 'To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are is out of our hands. Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We've played there many many times, with no issues - ever. Make of that what you will. To try to make up for it, we will be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday July 8th. - Pre-sale is tomorrow at 10am in our WhatsApp channel. - General sale is 10am this coming Saturday. ' Police Scotland and the promoter of the festival have been in regular contact regarding the staging of TRNSMT at Glasgow Green, an annual event that has been taking place since 2017. Police Scotland singled out the band in discussions, making representations regarding what they consider to be the local context of Kneecap performing at TRNSMT. Police concerns centred on the potential for football related flashpoints in the area surrounding the festival, the city centre and in the festival due to the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers fans and the Irish republican lyrics of Kneecap. Police registered concerns that the band's performance would require additional policing because of potential crowd reaction. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The move comes after a special police operation for the most recent Celtic v Rangers match. In March, football supporters from The Green Brigade and Rangers' Union Bears ultras groups were kettled by police and denied entry to the Celtic Park after police used Section 60 powers, intended to be used to search individuals for weapons. Supporters were reported to the procurator fiscal for concealing their identity. In April, First Minister John Swinney backed calls for Kneecap to be removed from the lineup for this year's TRNSMT music festival after outrage over a video clip from a performance in 2023. Organisers were urged to drop the Belfast trio over footage from a gig that appeared to show a band member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." Swinney said the alleged comments "crossed a line" and were unacceptable. He said: 'It would be unacceptable for me for the band to perform on such a stage given the fact their comments are so beyond the pale. I think TRNSMT have got to respond to that.' On 21 May, Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged by the Metropolitan Police after an incident on 21 November 2024 at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London. Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 18 June. In a statement posted on social media, Kneecap said: "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves." A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said this evening that the decision to remove the band from the lineup was a matter for the promoter and Police Scotland. Last month, council leader Susan Aitken said the local auhtority would not support a ban on the group performing in the city: 'The UK is a state where MPs have been murdered in recent years. Words can and do matter. That – certainly not on the part of the SNP group – doesn't translate into support for a ban on them playing in Glasgow or indeed anywhere else.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kneecap have been the focus of intense international scrutiny following their vocal criticism of Israeli military action in Gaza, particularly after their appearance at Coachella. Last month, music artists including Fontaines DC - who appear at TRNSMT on Saturday 12 July - Massive Attack, Dexys and The Pogues, signed an open letter in support of the band saying they face "a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the group."
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Kneecap rapper Mo Chara charged with terror offense
Kneecap star Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offense in the UK. The 27-year-old Irish rapper - whose real name is Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh - has been accused by London's Metropolitan police of "displaying a flag in support of proscribed organization Hezbollah" at O2 Forum gig in the UK capital city in November 2024. Ó Hannaidh - who has been charged under the name Liam O'Hanna is set to appear in court on June 18. In a statement on Instagram, Kneecap wrote: "We deny this 'offense' and will vehemently defend ourselves. 'This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. "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 are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.' The Metropolitan Police recently revealed they were assessing footage from the November 2024 gig, when the band allegedly said, "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah." Following the investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge, with both Hamas and Hezbollah banned in the UK, while it is a crime to express support for either of them. The group insisted they have never support either organisation. They also claimed another video - in which they allegedly told a London crowd "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP" - was taken "out of context". They said in a previous statement: "Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. "We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. 'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. "An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kneecap Member Charged With Terror Offense, Band Vows to 'Vehemently Defend Ourselves'
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, one-third of Irish rap group Kneecap, has been charged with a terror offense in the U.K. Ó Hannaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara and was a star of Rich Peppiatt's 'print the legend' biopic on the Belfast-based band, is accused of 'displaying a flag in support of proscribed organization Hezbollah at a London gig,' according to the city's Metropolitan Police, also known as Scotland Yard. More from The Hollywood Reporter Billy Williams, 'Gandhi' and 'On Golden Pond' Cinematographer, Dies at 96 Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' Gets 15-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes Premiere Paul Mescal Seduces Cannes With Gay Romance 'The History of Sound' The 27-year-old was charged by the police after an incident on Nov. 21, 2024, at a venue in north London. He is due to appear in court on June 18. The band took to social media after news of the charge. 'We deny this 'offense' and will vehemently defend ourselves,' said Kneecap. 'This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. 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.' Concluded the band: 'We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.' The group has drawn widespread criticism in recent months, and the Met Police said it would investigate after online videos showed the band calling for the death of British parliament ministers, as well as chanting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah.' It is illegal in the U.K. to express support for Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim political and military group in Lebanon, as it is considered a terrorist organization in Britain. Kneecap, also made up of members Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, said the video in question has been taken out of context, and that they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah. Last year, the movie Kneecap, also starring Michael Fassbender, dominated film headlines. Director Peppiatt made BAFTA history by tying the record for nominations for a debut filmmaker with six. He won one BAFTA, namely for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, with Peppiatt serving as both writer and director of the film. But the group's political views have gotten them into hot water. In April, they displayed messages about the ongoing war in Gaza during their Coachella set, leading to the cancellation of their concerts in Germany. Later, they parted ways with their booking agency Independent Artist Group, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter. Kneecap is set to headline the Wide Awake festival in South London on Friday. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Sunday World
21-05-2025
- Sunday World
British police charge member of Kneecap with terrorism offence
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh/Liam O'Hanna goes under the stage name Mo Chara British police have charged Liam O'Hanna, a member of the Belfast rap group Kneecap with a terror offence over the display of a flag in support of Hezbollah. The bilingual Irish rappers had been under investigation over a number of incidents at their gigs in recent months. Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh/Liam O'Hanna goes under the stage name Mo Chara. He was charged on Wednesday with a terrorism offence for displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, police said. More to follow...
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kneecap member charged with terrorism offence by British police over Hezbollah flag
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh/Liam O'Hanna (27) goes under the stage name Mo Chara. He was charged over the displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north-west London, on November 21 last year, London's Metropolitan Police said. O'Hanna, who lives in Belfast, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Met said. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, the force said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. The bilingual Irish rappers had been under investigation by British police over a number of statements and incidents at their gigs in recent months and had several UK and European gigs cancelled as a result. They have been extremely vocal on the plight of Palestinians and used their performance at the Coachella festival in the US to label Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide.
