Taoiseach: Kneecap should 'urgently clarify' comments on Hamas and Hezbollah

Micheál Martin has said: 'Hezbollah are responsible, in my view, for the murder of Seán Rooney.'

In recent days, Kneecap alleged on social media they have 'faced a co-ordinated smear campaign', after speaking out about 'the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people'. File photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Irish rap trio Kneecap must urgently clarify their position on whether or not they support Hamas and Hezbollah, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

It comes as Britain's Metropolitan Police is looking into footage from a concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” – groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.

A separate investigation is underway, after a video from a 2023 gig appeared to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” 

Mr Martin said it has been asserted that the trio are supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah and urged the group to clarify their position.

“I think it is important that Kneecap would clarify that and have they, or do they, support Hamas and Hezbollah, because that would be unacceptable.

“Hezbollah are responsible, in my view, for the murder of Seán Rooney.” 

Private Seán Rooney was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon in Lebanon in December 2022.

The Taoiseach said both Hamas and Hezbollah have engaged in terrorist activities and the “appalling killing of innocent people”, such as the attack on October 7.

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However, Mr Martin said it was “not clear to me” that Kneecap does support both Hamas and Hezbollah.

“It’s been asserted that they have made commentary in support of both. I think they should urgently clarify that,” Mr Martin said.

He said there have been “horrific events” surrounding the killing of British MPs in recent years, most recently the Conservative MP David Amess in 2021.

“There’s a huge responsibility on everybody to be very focused in terms of the protection of public representatives and the safety of public representatives, irrespective of what political views we have,” Mr Martin added.

It comes as Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the prosecution of Kneecap over their alleged comments about killing Tory MPs.

Ms Badenoch said: “Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society.” 

Asked if it would be a step too far for the group to have US visas withdrawn for their commentary on the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, Mr Martin reiterated that clarity was needed from Kneecap.

“In the broader scheme of things, in arts and creative arts and so on like that, people have always been facilitated in terms of their right to criticise particular policies and so on. There’s no issue there,” he added.

In recent days, Kneecap — which is made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain and JJ Ó Dochartaigh — alleged on social media they have “faced a co-ordinated smear campaign”, after speaking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.

Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert said the band had received “severe” death threats after Coachella.