{"id":193869,"date":"2025-06-18T08:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/193869\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T08:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:01:12","slug":"kneecap-plasters-london-with-message-of-support-ahead-of-court-appearance-of-group-member-mo-chara-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/193869\/","title":{"rendered":"Kneecap \u2018plasters\u2019 London with message of support ahead of court appearance of group member Mo Chara \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rap group Kneecap<\/a> has said it has \u201cplastered\u201d London with messages of support for one of its members who is due to appear in court accused of a terrorism offence.<\/p>\n

Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hizbullah at a gig in November last year.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 27-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates\u2019 Court on Wednesday following the alleged incident during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London.<\/p>\n

The charge he faces alleges he displayed a flag in a public place, \u201cin such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation\u201d \u2013 namely Hizbullah<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kneecap described the prosecution as a \u201cwitch hunt\u201d in a post on X on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n

The post including a short video which appeared to show a billboard that had been displayed in London with the words \u201cmore blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Police said the force had charged \u00d3 hAnnaidh, who appears on the court list as Liam O\u2019Hanna, after initially being made aware of a video from the gig at the O2 Forum which had been posted online.<\/p>\n

In a separate event shortly after the terrorism charge, \u00d3 hAnnaidh could be seen in social media videos entering the stage with tape covering his mouth.<\/p>\n

The Met previously said the Belfast rap trio were under investigation after clips posted online appeared to show the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting \u201cup Hamas, up Hizbullah\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Kneecap'sKneecap’s Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, on stage during the NorthSide Festival in Aarhus, Denmark earlier this month. Photograph: Helle Arensbak\/Ritzau Scanpix\/AFP via Getty Images \"AA supporter of Kneecap’s Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt\/PA <\/p>\n

\n

We’ve plastered London with a few messages ahead of this witch-hunt. <\/p>\n

British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with “terrorism” for crimes never committed.<\/p>\n

We will fight them. <\/p>\n

We will win. <\/p>\n

GRMA to our pals at @TenthManHello<\/a> for sorting. pic.twitter.com\/DbVQ6fTwda<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kneecap said they have \u201cnever supported\u201d Hamas or Hizbullah, both of which are banned in the UK. <\/p>\n

A rap band from west Belfast who perform mostly in Irish, Kneecap are Mo Chara, DJ Pr\u00f3vai and M\u00f3gla\u00ed Bap \u2013 real names Liam \u00d3g hAnnaidh, JJ \u00d3 Dochartaigh and Naoise \u00d3 Caireall\u00e1in respectively. <\/p>\n

They have been outspoken in support for Palestine<\/a> and in their criticism of Israel\u2019s<\/a> military actions<\/a> in Gaza<\/a>. Following their Coachella performance in April, Kneecap faced a backlash over their comments about Gaza during the gig. <\/p>\n

A number of Kneecap\u2019s gigs this year were also cancelled and UK ministers have sought to put pressure on Glastonbury\u2019s organisers<\/a> to halt the group\u2019s performance at the festival in June.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Kneecap at Fairview Park in Dublin: How to get there, set list, ticket information and moreOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The group insist the controversy has been manufactured in retaliation against their pro-Palestine stance and to distract from the what is happening in Gaza. – PA<\/p>\n