Suzanne Harrington: How can people protesting terrorism be the terrorists?

We need to end the inversion of reality

Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) of Irish hip hop trio Kneecap arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court to attend a hearing after being charged with terror offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London concert in November last year in London, United Kingdom on August 20, 2025. Pic: Wiktor Szymanowicz

Outside Westminster Magistrate’s Court, amid a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags, an older lady from Galway tells me she had never heard of Kneecap until Liam Óg’s arrest on farcical ‘terrorism’ charges. “I’ve heard of them now,” she says, pointing to her Free Mo Chara badge.

On the small makeshift stage, comedian Tadgh Hickey takes the mic. “Let’s observe a minute’s silence,” he says gravely. “For Bono’s feelings.” Then he bounces into a song dedicated to the British establishment, titled Are Ye Sorry For What Ye’ve Done? Someone holds up a sign saying “We’ll trade ye Liam Óg for Bono and McGregor.” A well-to-do Dublin lady next to me, looking up from her phone, fairly fizzes with glee: “The judge has appointed a translator. Ha!” Like the Kneecap film, except funnier. And decidedly more surreal.