Latest news with #LiamÓhAnnaidh
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Gerry Conlon lawyer
Irish rap trio Kneecap have named the legal team which will defend band member Liam Ó hAnnaidh against a terror charge. The rapper, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ní Ghrálaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: "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." In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". They also said they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out and Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines D.C., and 3Cag. O hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 June.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have named the legal team which will defend band member Liam Ó hAnnaidh against a terror charge. Rapper Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. Advertisement The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghralaigh KC. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32) Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ní Ghralaigh also worked on. Advertisement In an Instagram post, the group said: '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.' In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Advertisement In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18th. Advertisement His lawyers have been approached for comment.
Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Kneecap rapper calls terror charge an attempt to ‘silence us' during London festival appearance
A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap said the terror charge he faces is an attempt to 'silence us,' as the group appeared on stage for a gig they claimed was nearly 'pulled.' Liam Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, spoke to thousands of people in Brockwell Park, south London, as the group headlined the Wide Awake Festival on Friday. Earlier in the day, they released a new song, just two days after Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig in November last year. The group have been outspoken on the war in Gaza, and before they emerged on stage, a screen displayed the message 'Free Palestine,' which was met with cheers from the crowd. Performing alongside his bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Ó hAnnaidh said he believed the prosecution was designed to 'silence us' and prevent them from playing Glastonbury Festival this summer. He said: 'We are being made an example of. The Israeli lobbyists are trying to prove to other artists 'that if you speak out, we're going to hit you where it hurts most.' 'They're trying to cancel gigs, they're trying to cancel my freedom of travel. 'And the fact that I'm speaking to this amount of people, and I assume the majority of you will agree, shows that we're on the right side of history.' He also told the crowd at Brockwell Park in south London: 'I went for an interview with the counter-terror police and within days they came to a verdict that they were going to charge me. Never has it been that quick. 'And the reason it was that quick was because Glastonbury is just around the corner. They're trying to silence us.' One of the group said: 'Thank you very much. They tried to stop this gig.' And one was heard saying: 'Honestly lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig.' One of the trio thanked their fans for supporting them. Earlier, the group posted on Instagram to thank the '25,000 legends' due to attend the event. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh arrives at the 100 Club for the rap trio's surprise gig (PA) The trio have had gigs cancelled after footage emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.' They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised.' But they also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, was then charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. On Friday night, one member was heard telling the crowd: 'If anybody's about on June 18 … we're all going to gather outside the Westminster court to show support.' One of the trio was also heard saying: 'Anybody who's free on June 18 – get a big bag of ket and we'll go on the steps of Westminster.' UK Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after former business secretary Ms Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The new song, The Recap, opens with a sample of a news report about the counter-terrorism police investigation into the group, and mocks Ms Badenoch's attempts to block their arts funding, as well as the Conservative Party's election losses. The song also features DJ Mozey. On Thursday, the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, where Ó hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful about what he said, adding that he wanted to thank his lawyer. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way to Live (featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines D.C.), and 3Cag. Read More Kneecap announce new song ahead of headline performance at London's Wide Awake
