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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Kneecap facing US travel ban if Mo Chara is convicted of terror charge
Kneecap member Mo Chara is due at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18. If convicted, he will automatically be barred from entering the States BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 2: (L-R) Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí and Móglaí Bap of, Irish rap group, Kneecap pose for a portrait shoot outside the Hawthorn Pub in West Belfast on June 2, 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by) BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 23: A message supporting Kneecap can be seen on Belfast's Black Mountain showing the words 'Kneecap Abu' which translates to "Up Kneecap" or "Kneecap Forever" in white lettering on May 23, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The signage comes after a member of the Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah 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.. (Photo by) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: (L-R) Director Rich Peppiatt, and Móglaí Bap, Dj Provaí, Mo Chara of Kneecap and Producer Trevor Birney attend the "Kneecap" Premiere during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema on June 09, 2024 in New York City. (Photo byfor Tribeca Festival) Kneecap are facing a travel ban in the US if Mo Chara is convicted under anti-terrorism legislation, the Sunday World has learned. The band is still scheduled to play a series of gigs across North America in October, with a number of them already sold out. The trio are due to play New York, Boston, Minneapolis Philadelphia, Nashville and Washington with other gigs scheduled for Kentucky, Seattle and San Francisco. They are also due at a number of sell-out gigs in Canada – all of which are still being advertised despite controversy surrounding the London Met's charging of Ó hAnnaidh for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed Lebanese organisation Hezbollah at a concert in London last November. He is due at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18. If convicted, he will automatically be barred from entering the States. Industry sources say they are 'facing an onslaught'' from political leaders and from 'powerful elements' within the music industry determined to silence them. Graffitti in support of Kneecap appeared on walls in West Belfast. 'The boys will not stay quiet, they are not going away,' said our source, 'in many ways they have become a cypher for something much bigger than them, they are on the right side of history.' The Sunday World understands the band's appearance at Glastonbury at the end of June is not currently under threat despite political pressure on the organisers. And they have a whole summer planned of festival appearances across Europe, the first of which was the Wide Awake Festival in south London on Friday where 20,000 fans filled Brockwell Park in Brixton. The Sunday World understands representatives from Glastonbury and other summer festivals were at Friday's show. The band has the backing of many musicians – Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher among them, while Sir Elton John has lauded them and on Friday, Sir Rod Stewart was seen in the wings watching the Kneecap set. Last night award-winning film-maker Trevor Birney, who made a Bafta-winning biopic of the band, said the group was now at the forefront of a global awakening to what's happening in Gaza. 'Kneecap are now cast in that global story. It's not where they wanted or intended to be, but they are shining a light on what is happening in Gaza at a time when political leaders around the world don't want to talk about it,' he said. 'They are speaking for young people around the world, telling them this is genocide. They have transcended the established political order.' He said their message came at a time when Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were shutting down free speech on social media, and mainstream media was increasingly restricted. 'Public spaces for people to be informed are getting smaller,' he said. 'Soon the only place to get the truth across is from the stage.' He said there was more than enough material for a second Kneecap movie, but that is some way off. It is understood the band no longer hold valid visas following their controversial appearance at the Coachella festival in California in April. They used their gig in the Californian desert to highlight the genocide in Palestine. With neon signs proclaiming 'f**k Israel'' thousands of fans chanted 'Free Free Palestine.' The band has refused to step back from despite attempts to have them cancelled. A number of festivals in Europe have been cancelled but they are due to play events in Denmark, Netherlands and the Czech Republic before returning at the of June for a sell-out concert in Dublin. Then comes Glastonbury on June 28. Festival organisers have come under pressure from politicians and ministers to drop the Belfast rappers from the line-up. They are then due to play in front of 40,000 fans at Belfast's Boucher Playing Fields where they will support Dublin's Fontaines DC at the end of August. Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns By then they will have also played in Greece, Scandanavia, Belgium, France and the UK. After a surprise gig at the 100 Club in London on Wednesday following Mo Chara's arrest, they took to the stage on Friday in from of 20,000 fans at the Wide Awake Festival in south London. Mo Chara told the crowd the authorities were 'trying to silence us' before Glastonbury and urged fans not to be 'on the wrong side of history'. 'I know we're out, we're enjoying ourselves and we're trying to listen to some tunes at a festival... believe me lads, I wish I didn't have to do this,' he said. 'Let's remember how lucky we are to be in a field with our friends and not being bombed from the sky,' Mo Chara said. He said the US administration had been embarrassed to see thousands of Americans chanting 'Free Palestine', describing Glastonbury as the UK's Coachella. An estimated 54,000 people including 16,500 children have died in Israel's bombing campaign launched in the wake of Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. Organisers of Friday's Brixton event confirmed in a statement earlier this month that the gig would go ahead after they had held 'positive discussions with key stakeholders'. 'Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent,' they said. But other Kneecap gigs have been cancelled including at the Eden Project in Cornwall and Plymouth Pavilions.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Family dog killed and two people injured as Dublin gang firebombs wrong house
Two hospitalised after blunder by feuding thugs Two people were hospitalised and a family dog killed after reckless criminals firebombed the wrong house as part of an escalating Dublin feud. The innocent family's home was targeted in an early morning attack in Ballyfermot, causing extensive damage. Detectives believe it was carried out as part of a worsening city feud involving a young drug dealer and junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan. There has been a spate of assaults and petrol bombings in recent weeks while one property was also shot up last year. Brian Rattigan is not suspected by gardaí of any direct involvement in the gang feud which is believed to be connected to the petrol bombing An investigation is under way into the latest incident which happened at around 2.30am last Wednesday. Emergency services including Dublin Fire Brigade, paramedics and gardaí were alerted and two people taken to hospital as a precaution. Extensive damage was caused by a suspected petrol bomb and the family dog was killed. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house The residents who live at the property have no involvement in criminality and gardaí are satisfied the perpetrators targeted the wrong home. A source said: 'This is a decent family who have absolutely no involvement in what has been going on. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house. 'It shows the calibre of people involved in this feuding and how easily completely innocent people can get caught up in this'. No arrests have been made. Stock photo News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025 A Garda spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incident of criminal damage by fire is under way. The Sunday World previously revealed how a partner of one of the feuding criminals was also warned by her boyfriend's rivals that she would be burnt out of her home. A drug dealer in his 20s is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack Her partner, a drug dealer aged in his 20s, is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack in the city centre recently. He was beaten over the head with weapons and also stabbed while receiving a bad slash wound to his face. His family home was also shot at in May of last year while his home and car were smashed up days before the assault on him. Days after that attack a series of co-ordinated petrol bomb attacks linked to the dispute were carried out in Drimnagh and Kildare. Gardaí believe two brothers, who are in their early 20s and junior associates of convicted killer Rattigan, are leading the feud against the young drug dealer. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud They were previously part of the same drugs gang but last year fell out in a row over drugs as well as a personal dispute over a woman. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud which claimed more than a dozen lives in the 2000s. He has served lengthy jail terms for drug offences and manslaughter. The mobster is not suspected of playing any direct role in the feud but gardaí believe he still has a key role in criminality in the area.
Sunday World
22-05-2025
- Sunday World
Thug who strangled teen for ‘Baldy' insult is back working at King's favourite fish farm
Derek Morrow was jailed for six months after the shocking incident Derek Morrow was jailed for six months after the shocking incident which took place last March in Glenarm after he'd a skinful in a local pub following a shift at the Glenarm Organic Salmon fishery. The 14-year-old victim blacked-out after Morrow attacked him after comments were made to him by one of the teenager's friends. The 41-year-old has a history of violent assaults but was released from prison recently after completing his sentence. Sources in the Co Antrim fishing village say they were 'surprised' to see him walk straight back into his job at Glenarm Organic Salmon where he has worked for years. 'Morrow is a known thug and what he did was an absolute disgrace,' said the Glenarm resident. 'He's served his time but it's not like it was a first offence – he's lucky he didn't kill that wee lad. It could have been far worse. 'The fishery is highly respected all over the world. Even King Charles eats their salmon so it's a surprise they want anything to do with someone like that.' Glenarm Organic salmon farm The Sunday World contacted Glenarm Organic Salmon on email and we spoke to them on the phone but they declined the offer to respond. According to their website: 'Established in 2008, Glenarm Organic Salmon Ltd remains to this day the only Atlantic salmon farmer in the Irish Sea and the sole producer of the world's finest Organic Salmon.' Last year Princess Anne was pictured at the fishery during a Royal Visit and in 2018 King Charles met the boss at a function at posh London shop Fortnum and Mason. Derek Morrow News in 90 Seconds - May 22nd Then Prince, it emerged Charles is a big fan of Glenarm smoked salmon which is sold at the famous shop which prides itself on selling high end products. Accompanying the Prince when he met up with the firm's commercial director in the London store was the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers; the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster; Fortnum & Mason Chairman, Kate Hobhouse and NI Food Ambassador James Nesbitt. Morrow was amongst the first people in the country to be convicted of non-fatal strangulation after the new offence came into law in July 2023, aimed largely at tackling the scourge of domestic abuse perpetrated by men against women. Glenarm Organic salmon farm A judge at Ballymena Magistrates said Morrow, a father of three, had gone on the lash and 'then goes out and strangles a child' and described the assault as a 'very dangerous act'. Having initially denied charges of non-fatal strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Morrow, of New Road, Glenarm, finally pleaded guilty just before a contest was due to start. A prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates' Court the 14-year-old had been socialising with friends in the Glenarm area when he was approached by Morrow on March 22. The boy told police that around 10pm one of his friends had called the defendant 'baldy' as he walked down the street. The prosecutor said Morrow was 'angered by this' and approached and reached out with both hands and grabbed the 14-year-old by the throat preventing him from being able to breathe. The boy blacked out before regaining consciousness lying in the middle of the road and the defendant was not present. The boy suffered headaches afterwards and later attended Antrim Area Hospital for 'suspected concussion'. A defence lawyer said references to court were received from an employer; a community group 'that he works with', and a football team. The lawyer accepted it was an 'appalling set off facts' and Morrow, who had pleaded guilty, was 'genuinely regretful and extremely remorseful'. District Judge Nigel Broderick said a 41-year-old man had strangled a 14-year-old child causing him to lose consciousness and asked: 'What on earth is he doing?' The defence lawyer said the incident was 'entirely out of character'.
Sunday World
19-05-2025
- Sunday World
Mum says teacher attacked autistic son like angry bouncer kicking someone out of club
'She told my son he was disgusting – She grabbed his hand behind his back' The mother of an autistic child assaulted by preschool worker Tanya Shortt has told how the teacher twisted her young son's arm behind his back and called him disgusting. The distraught mother described the assault as looking like something an angry bouncer kicking someone out of a nightclub would do - rather than a preschool teacher. She is now calling for CCTV to be installed in all facilities for vulnerable kids. The Sunday World revealed last week how Shortt (36), from Esmondale, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co Kildare, was given two two-month suspended sentences at Blanchardstown District Court last month after pleading guilty to assaulting two children at Play and Language Support (PALS) preschool for autistic children in Finglas, Dublin in January 2023. Shortt was caught after other staff members reported her worrying behaviour around children and alerted bosses, who reviewed CCTV, suspended her and contacted gardai. We spoke to families last week who were devastated after learning about Shortt's violent behaviour. Our story last week More details have now emerged as other parents came forward this week to tell their stories. The mother of a six-year-old boy assaulted by Shortt said she was shocked when she sat in court just metres from the former teacher as CCTV of the incident was played. 'It was very difficult. I was shocked by what I had seen on the camera. I wasn't the better of it at all,' she said. 'His nose was running and she was telling him he was disgusting. She grabbed his hand behind his back and brought him over to the sink. It was like he was being taken out of a pub. The child started bursting out crying. 'All she had to do was say would you go over here; she didn't even need to put her hands on the child.' Another mother, who was also present in court to see the video, said: 'She completely twisted his arm and held it in that twisted position behind his back.' Our reporter Alan Sherry confronts Tanya Shortt The boy's mother said after Shortt assaulted him he no longer wanted to go to school, would hit himself and became overly cautious of new people he would meet. She said Shortt took his 'innocence, his trust and happy spirit.' She also told how he would mimic what Shortt did to him and would call his siblings 'disgusting' and try to restrain them. The mum said her ability to trust services available to her children has been greatly impacted since the assault. Tanya Shortt News in 90 Seconds - May 19th 'I have refused respite services that I desperately need because I no longer believe my children are safe in the care of those employed to mind them,' she said. She said, unlike PALS, the respite service did not have CCTV so she wasn't taking any chances. 'I hope for a change in the law in the future so that CCTV can be mandatory in all special needs schools and any place where there are vulnerable or non-verbal people being cared for.' She said without CCTV, Shortt may have never been brought to justice. 'CCTV is absolutely fantastic because it's black and white and there's no hearsay and she's bang to rights. But you need a human to raise concerns and a human to look at the CCTV and a human to make the calls to the guards and that's what they done,' she said. 'PALS did completely the right thing.' Another mother was shown CCTV of her daughter being pulled by one arm from a play pool but was later told the DPP decided not to prosecute over that incident. She sat in court during the recent case and watched all of the CCTV of the various incidents. She described other incidents, including pinching of children, and said Shortt always appeared to hide what she was doing from other staff. 'She was bending down leaning over some of the kids, like as if she was trying to help them, I suppose, but as she was leaning down she'd be pinching their arms. Everything was really sneaky so other staff couldn't see.' She said in the incident where Shortt grabbed her daughter by one arm that once other staff turned around she grabbed her by two arms. 'You could see in the videos she was waiting for the right opportunity. It was very sly and she knew she shouldn't have been doing it. 'There were other people in the room but obviously when they're busy with other kids and turned their back for a second, that seemed to be when she did things.' She said the CCTV only covered a short amount of time and parents fear there could have been other incidents. 'It was like only like a day or two before Christmas and there was a Christmas break and then there was like a day after so we got very, very little footage.' Both mothers praised how PALS handled the situation. The mother of the six-year-old said: 'They were as stressed as we were. They were very attached to my children. 'They've always been very kind. They have always been very good from my experience with them. There is nothing I can really fault them with. 'They could have said we're not going to pursue this we're a charity and rely on people's opinions and donations but instead they pursued it I think the school should be commended on it. They should be praised.'
Sunday World
19-05-2025
- Sunday World
Parent says teacher attacked autistic son like angry bouncer kicking someone out of club
'She told my son he was disgusting – She grabbed his hand behind his back' The mother of an autistic child assaulted by preschool worker Tanya Shortt has told how the teacher twisted her young son's arm behind his back and called him disgusting. The distraught mother described the assault as looking like something an angry bouncer kicking someone out of a nightclub would do - rather than a preschool teacher. She is now calling for CCTV to be installed in all facilities for vulnerable kids. The Sunday World revealed last week how Shortt (36), from Esmondale, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co Kildare, was given two two-month suspended sentences at Blanchardstown District Court last month after pleading guilty to assaulting two children at Play and Language Support (PALS) preschool for autistic children in Finglas, Dublin in January 2023. Shortt was caught after other staff members reported her worrying behaviour around children and alerted bosses, who reviewed CCTV, suspended her and contacted gardai. We spoke to families last week who were devastated after learning about Shortt's violent behaviour. Our story last week More details have now emerged as other parents came forward this week to tell their stories. The mother of a six-year-old boy assaulted by Shortt said she was shocked when she sat in court just metres from the former teacher as CCTV of the incident was played. 'It was very difficult. I was shocked by what I had seen on the camera. I wasn't the better of it at all,' she said. 'His nose was running and she was telling him he was disgusting. She grabbed his hand behind his back and brought him over to the sink. It was like he was being taken out of a pub. The child started bursting out crying. 'All she had to do was say would you go over here; she didn't even need to put her hands on the child.' Another mother, who was also present in court to see the video, said: 'She completely twisted his arm and held it in that twisted position behind his back.' Our reporter Alan Sherry confronts Tanya Shortt The boy's mother said after Shortt assaulted him he no longer wanted to go to school, would hit himself and became overly cautious of new people he would meet. She said Shortt took his 'innocence, his trust and happy spirit.' She also told how he would mimic what Shortt did to him and would call his siblings 'disgusting' and try to restrain them. The mum said her ability to trust services available to her children has been greatly impacted since the assault. Tanya Shortt News in 90 Seconds - May 19th 'I have refused respite services that I desperately need because I no longer believe my children are safe in the care of those employed to mind them,' she said. She said, unlike PALS, the respite service did not have CCTV so she wasn't taking any chances. 'I hope for a change in the law in the future so that CCTV can be mandatory in all special needs schools and any place where there are vulnerable or non-verbal people being cared for.' She said without CCTV, Shortt may have never been brought to justice. 'CCTV is absolutely fantastic because it's black and white and there's no hearsay and she's bang to rights. But you need a human to raise concerns and a human to look at the CCTV and a human to make the calls to the guards and that's what they done,' she said. 'PALS did completely the right thing.' Another mother was shown CCTV of her daughter being pulled by one arm from a play pool but was later told the DPP decided not to prosecute over that incident. She sat in court during the recent case and watched all of the CCTV of the various incidents. She described other incidents, including pinching of children, and said Shortt always appeared to hide what she was doing from other staff. 'She was bending down leaning over some of the kids, like as if she was trying to help them, I suppose, but as she was leaning down she'd be pinching their arms. Everything was really sneaky so other staff couldn't see.' She said in the incident where Shortt grabbed her daughter by one arm that once other staff turned around she grabbed her by two arms. 'You could see in the videos she was waiting for the right opportunity. It was very sly and she knew she shouldn't have been doing it. 'There were other people in the room but obviously when they're busy with other kids and turned their back for a second, that seemed to be when she did things.' She said the CCTV only covered a short amount of time and parents fear there could have been other incidents. 'It was like only like a day or two before Christmas and there was a Christmas break and then there was like a day after so we got very, very little footage.' Both mothers praised how PALS handled the situation. The mother of the six-year-old said: 'They were as stressed as we were. They were very attached to my children. 'They've always been very kind. They have always been very good from my experience with them. There is nothing I can really fault them with. 'They could have said we're not going to pursue this we're a charity and rely on people's opinions and donations but instead they pursued it I think the school should be commended on it. They should be praised.'
