Kneecap: Terror charge is 'carnival of distraction' and 'political policing'

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged under the name Liam O’Hanna over the displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in London. 

Irish rap trio Kneecap have said the charging of one of their members with a terror offence in the UK is “political policing” and a “carnival of distraction”.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged under the name Liam O’Hanna over the alleged displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 last year.

In a statement on Thursday, the group 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 ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare 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 your court. We will win. Free Palestine.”

Mr Ó hAnnaidh, 27, of Belfast, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command in the UK were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said.

An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge.

Earlier this month, the Met 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”.

The Belfast rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged, but are still listed to headline Friday’s Wide Awake day festival in Brixton’s Brockwell Park.

Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh and Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.

The group apologised last month 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.

When asked about reports that the band is being afforded consular assistance, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The Irish Government, if required, always supplies consular assistance to Irish citizens, no matter where they reside."

Speaking in Cork, Mr Martin said: “It’s now a matter before the courts. I would note that members of the band are being very clear in recent statements that they do not, in any shape or form, support Hezbollah, or indeed Hamas.

“They’ve issued statements to that effect, but I’m not going to interfere in the court process now at this stage. This matter will take its course and I’m not going to comment on something that has happened in the UK through its legal processes.

“I’ve noted, as I’ve said, the very clear statements from Kneecap that they do not, in any shape or form, support Hezbollah or Hamas, and that was an important statement in my view.”

Meanwhile, British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.

Campaign Against Antisemitism, which reported Kneecap to counter-terrorism police, posted on X: “We are pleased to see the police have acted swiftly. Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK. The law must be enforced.” 

Paul Maskey, the Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast, described the move as “outrageous” in a post on X.

He wrote: “Genocide is unfolding before our eyes. Babies in Gaza are being starved to death. Whole families are slaughtered by a genocidal, out-of-control Israeli regime. Yet it’s Kneecap, who are using their voice to expose this genocide, who face charges by British police. Outrageous!”

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.

The comedy movie follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music.

The film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.

It was also among the big winners at the Irish Film and Television Academy, scooping four awards including best director for Rich Peppiatt.

Formed in 2017, the group, made up of Mr 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, and their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live and 3Cag.