Latest news with #O'Hanna
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kneecap cancel festival appearance as controversy erupts over Irish rap act
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have pulled out of this year's TRNSMT Festival following calls for the group to be removed from the line-up. The Belfast-based group were scheduled to perform at Glasgow Green in July, but will no longer appear following news that group member Liam O'Hanna has been charged by the Metropolitan Police. O'Hanna, 27 - who performs under the stage name Mo Chara - was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organisation in the UK. The charge relates to an incident that reportedly took place on November 21, 2023, during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London. In the wake of the controversy, Kneecap will instead perform at the O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8 — the same week they were due to appear at TRNSMT. In a statement on social media, Kneecap said: "'Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT'. To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry ... it is out of our hands." They continued: "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 and 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." A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Scottish Sun: "Any decision on the line up at TRNSMT is for the organisers and 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." This is a breaking showbiz news story. Join The Mirror's ****WhatsApp Community ****or follow us on ****, ****, Apple News, ****, ****, ****, ****, ****, **** and **** - or visit The Mirror homepage**
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hip-hop trio Kneecap say cops ‘trying to silence them' at first major gig since Liam O'Hanna charged with terror offence
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KNEECAP claimed cops are "trying to silence them" at their first major gig since a band member was charged with a terror offence. The Irish-language hip-hop trio slammed the charge as "political policing". Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Wide Awake Festival last night Credit: Getty 5 Mo Chara of Kneecap performs at Brockwell Park on May 23 Credit: Getty 5 Kneecap performs beneath a 'Free Palestine' sign onstage during Wide Awake Festival 2025 at Brockwell Park in south London Credit: AFP Liam O'Hanna, 27, was charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. The rapper is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Appearing onstage at the Wide Awake festival last night, he declared to fans that police are "trying to silence us before Glastonbury" and urged them to be "on the right side of history." Mo Chara (O'Hanna), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and balaclava-wearing DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh) played songs from their album Fine Art. It has seen a surge in streaming since the controversy began. The album includes a song called The Recap which was released only hours earlier. It begins with a clip of a news report about the counter-terrorism investigation. O'Hanna joked with fans that they would have to write to him in jail, the BBC reported. Some Kneecap gigs have been cancelled in the wake of the controversy. These include sets at the Eden Project in Cornwall and Plymouth Pavilions. They are listed to perform on the Saturday at Glastonbury, but some politicians have called for the trio to be barred. The rapper is due in court the week before the festival starts. O'Hanna was charged after allegedly displaying the banner in support of the Iranian proxy militants in Lebanon. The incident unfolded on November 21 last year at the O2 Forum, in Kentish Town, London. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command launched an urgent probe after being made aware on April 22. An investigation was carried out after reviewing video footage from the event. O'Hanna, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was later charged under the Terrorism Act 2000. Friday's gig follows a smaller "secret" band at London's 100 club the night before. At least three cops were seen walking into the venue at around 7.35pm. The rapper 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 DC, and 3Cag. 5 Mo Chara of Kneecap performing on Friday night Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hip-hop trio Kneecap say cops ‘trying to silence them' at first major gig since Liam O'Hanna charged with terror offence
KNEECAP claimed cops are "trying to silence them" at their first major gig since a band member was charged with a terror offence. The 5 Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Wide Awake Festival last night Credit: Getty 5 Mo Chara of Kneecap performs at Brockwell Park on May 23 Credit: Getty 5 Kneecap performs beneath a 'Free Palestine' sign onstage during Wide Awake Festival 2025 at Brockwell Park in south London Credit: AFP Liam O'Hanna, 27, was flag. The rapper is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Mo Chara (O'Hanna), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and balaclava-wearing DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh) played songs from their album Fine Art. Read More It has seen a surge in streaming since the controversy began. The album includes a song called The Recap which was released only hours earlier. It begins with a clip of a news report about the counter-terrorism investigation. O'Hanna joked with fans that they would have to write to him in jail, the Most read in Showbiz These include sets at the They are listed to perform on the Saturday at Glastonbury, but some politicians have called for the trio to be barred. The rapper is due in court the week before the festival starts. O'Hanna was charged after allegedly displaying the banner in support of the Iranian proxy militants in Lebanon. The incident unfolded on November 21 last year at the O2 Forum, in Kentish Town, London. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command launched an urgent probe after being made aware on April 22. An investigation was carried out after reviewing video footage from the event. O'Hanna, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was later charged under the Terrorism Act 2000. At least three cops were seen walking into the venue at around 7.35pm. The rapper 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 DC, and 3Cag. 5 Mo Chara of Kneecap performing on Friday night Credit: Getty 5 Kneecap perform onstage during Wide Awake Festival 2025 Credit: AFP
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kneecap tell fans Glastonbury slot hangs in the balance after terror charge
Irish rap trio Kneecap have taken to the stage of a London festival just days after member Liam O'Hanna was charged with a terror offence. However, opening their set this evening, the group admitted their set very almost got cancelled at the last minute and pressure is mounting on Glastonbury to pull their slot at Worthy Farm next month. Earlier this week, Liam O'Hanna, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London last November. The band strongly deny the charges brought against O'Hanna and said in a lengthy statement that they will "vehemently defend" themselves against what they claimed was "political policing". Tonight, the group, who hail from Belfast and rap in the Irish language, performed in the headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London tonight. After performing their first song, the trio seemed to reference their recent controversy, telling the crowd that the set nearly got pulled. As the crowd, many waving flags, chanted "Free, Free Palestine", the group told their fans: "They tried to stop this gig. Honestly lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled. Performing in front of a graphic that reads "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people", they added: "Has anybody been watching the news! It wasn't even me! Thank you to all you c**** for supporting us through all this." Later, the boys revealed "this is the biggest crowd we've ever played to." Liam then went on to discuss his recent charges, revealing: "I had an interview with counter terrorism and within a day they charged me." The group also revealed their Glastonbury slot hangs in the balance due to pressure from the police and government. Kneecap's recent controversaries hasn't put off fans from attending their shows. Speaking ahead of tonight's gig, one said of the band's politics: "We were fans of Kneecap before but we've become bigger fans in the last month. I don't agree with what they said but they had the right intentions in mind and I support their cause. No other act is being scrutinised like them - and you have to look at what they've been through to understand it." "My girlfriend made me watch the Kneecap film - it was amazing and I've. Even fans ever since," another added, with a third declaring: "I started listening to them because of the controversy and found that their songs slapped so I wanted to watch them." Earlier this week, Kneecap held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, with O'Hanna seen in social media videos arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked: "I need to thank my lawyer, he's here tonight as well." Writing on X, the band announced that the event had sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. O'Hanna is set to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18 after being charged by postal requisition. The band said in a lengthy statement on Instagram: "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 travel ability. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare to speak out. "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 court. We will win. Free Palestine."
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Kneecap's headline festival performance to go ahead after terror offence charge
Kneecap will tonight headline a major festival at Brockwell Park just days after one of the members were charged by the Metropolitan Police with a terror offence Kneecap are going ahead with headlining a festival, two days after a member was charged with a terror offence. Liam O'Hanna, who uses 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, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. It comes after they held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O'Hanna could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: "I need to thank my lawyer, he's here tonight as well." Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authority's decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was "irrational". Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to "confirm that the event has been cancelled" and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the event's organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. Earlier this week, O'Hanna was charged by postal requisition and will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police confirmed. The band strongly deny the charges brought against O'Hanna. Taking to Instagram to issue a lengthy statement, the band said: "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 travel ability. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare to speak out. "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 court. We will win. Free Palestine." 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. Earlier this month, 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".
