Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge
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Kneecap court case RECAP as Mo Chara faces month-long wait over whether terror charge is thrown out
Liam Og O hAnnaidh faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrown out. He is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
He was once again greeted by hundreds of fans as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a three-hour hearing.
Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old, who followed some of the proceedings through an Irish interpreter, displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.
During Wednesday’s hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.
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Celebs: Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is alleged to have waved the yellow flag of Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London on November 21, 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, which makes it a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Hundreds of fans turned out to support him at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. His lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution case should be thrown out. Judge Paul Goldspring said he would give a decision on September 26.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O’Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the yellow flag of Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London on November 21, 2024.
Ó hAnnaidh is accused of holding up the flag on stage while saying “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. Kneecap have said the flag was thrown on stage during their performance.
The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, which makes it a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with the Palestinian cause and had to fight his way through a scrum of photographers to get inside the building.
He sat alongside an Irish language interpreter during the hearing and his bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, stage name Móglaí Bap, and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, who goes by DJ Próvaí, were also in court, with supporters filling the public gallery.
RULING NEXT MONTH
Irish music was played outside the court throughout the hearing, with many supporters waving Irish and Palestinian flags while others held placards reading “Free Mo Chara”.
Ó hAnnaidh’s lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution case should be thrown out, as Ó hAnnaidh was formally charged on May 22 this year, one day after the six-month limit for such charges.
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, however, argued that Ó hAnnaidh was charged on May 21, within the time limit. Judge Paul Goldspring said he would give a decision on September 26.
Ó hAnnaidh left the court to cheers from supporters, telling the crowd the charge against him was “a distraction from the real story” of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.
Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the charge was an attempt to silence them.
The group – who rap about Irish identity and support the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland – have been increasingly vocal about the war in Gaza since Ó hAnnaidh was charged.
Kneecap led a 30,000-strong crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in June in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and accused Israel of committing war crimes in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, an accusation Israel denies.
‘They are turning him into a hero’: Kneecap solidarity gig held in Dublin
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. His defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge was brought. The case has been adjourned until September 26, when the judge will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case. Several artists played Irish traditional music in solidarity with the rappers and Palestine at a protest session at Connolly Books on Wednesday afternoon. Musician Ru O’Shea, who performed at the demonstration, said charging him into ‘a hero’ rather than focus on what is happening to the people of Gaza. “I think it’s been a huge misstep by the powers that be to go after him in the first place,” he told the PA news agency. ‘I think people are maybe starting to look up a little bit in Britain, and I think things like what’s happening with Kneecap is a catalyst for people to be like ‘Oh, wait a minute, what’s actually happening here?’’
Kneecap flags and logos hung from the windows in Connolly Books, which dubs itself Ireland’s oldest radical bookshop, in solidarity with O hAnnaidh, Kneecap, and the people of Palestine.
Pro-Palestine supporters criticised the decision by British authorities to bring a charge against the performer instead of focusing on the Israeli government’s actions against the Palestinian people.
O hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
Hundreds of Kneecap supporters greeted O hAnnaidh as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday morning, alongside fellow Kneecap rappers Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.
During the hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.
The case has been adjourned until September 26, when the judge will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.
At the protest session at Connolly Books on Wednesday afternoon, several artists played Irish traditional music in solidarity with the rappers and Palestine.
Musician Ru O’Shea, who performed at the demonstration, said charging O hAnnaidh had turned him into “a hero”.
“I think it’s been a huge misstep by the powers that be to go after him in the first place,” he told the PA news agency.
“I reckon that they don’t have a thing on him, and I think they are turning him into a hero, and I think we need a hero.
Ispini na hEireann play at Connolly Books in Dublin’s Temple Bar area (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire)
“What’s happening in Palestine right now, it’s gotten to such an extreme that it’s waking a lot of people up, including the British who might not have ever seen it otherwise and stayed in that bubble forever.”
O’Shea’s friend John Feehan said: “I think people are maybe starting to look up a little bit in Britain, and I think things like what’s happening with Kneecap is a catalyst for people to be like ‘Oh, wait a minute, what’s actually happening here?’. So I hope there’s momentum, but I really don’t know.”
Dubliner Aoife Powell, 19, said she came out to protest because she is “angry” at the decision to charge an artist rather than focus on what is happening to the people of Gaza.
“I’m here because it just worries me that the fact that governments are focused on artists expressing themselves rather than the actual problem, which is obviously the genocide in Gaza,” she told PA.
“It’s a little bit disheartening to see there’s so much pressure being put on these artists to stop saying what they truly think and to stop standing on the right side of history.
“I feel like it’s a distraction from what’s actually happening.
“When a government tries to silence people, they should learn that they can never silence people. I feel like the public would get more angry at that.”
Sean O’Grady is from Coleraine in Northern Ireland but has lived in Dublin for almost 70 years.
Kneecap’s Liam Og O hAnnaidh, speaks to supporters as he leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)
“I’m delighted with them (Kneecap), that they’ve done what they’re doing, and they’re getting plenty of publicity.
“The British government are crazy, I mean, what are they at?
“They’re supplying a lot of the bombs, and a lot of the arms and ammunition to Israel to do what they’re doing. So they should be ashamed of themselves instead of bringing in these people (to court) for stupid reasons.
“It’s getting good publicity over there for the cause of the Palestinians.”
Dubliner Dermot Nolan said he attended his first Palestine protest in 1967, and while he remembers horrific events such as the Vietnam War, the scale of death and injuries in Gaza is the worst he has ever lived through.
“I’m here because it’s important to for two reasons – first of all, to show our intolerance of the genocide and slaughter that’s being carried out by the US, Nato and Israel.
“The second reason is the question of civil rights. We’re protesting about the indictment of a member of the Irish group Kneecap.
“It is a sign of creeping authoritarianism which is happening in all the western countries and most clearly in Britain.”
Member of Irish rap band Kneecap appears at UK court on ‘terrorism’ charge
Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He was charged in May for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert. His lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution case should be thrown out. Judge Paul Goldspring said he would give a decision on September 26. Kneecap has taken a stance against Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 60,000 people and reduced much of the enclave to rubble since it began in October 2023. Hezbollah began cross-border attacks into Israel shortly after Israel launched the assault, saying at the time that it was acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O’Hanna, and who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, appeared at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he was charged in May for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November.
O hAnnaidh, 27, was greeted by crowds chanting “Free Mo Chara” and waving Irish and Palestinian flags, footage showed. His fellow bandmembers Naoise O Caireallain and J J O Dochartaigh were also in court.
O hAnnaidh was swamped by photographers as he arrived, with security officers taking more than a minute to usher him into the court building.
Police imposed conditions limiting where demonstrations in support of O hAnnaidh could take place, saying they were needed to “prevent serious disruption”.
In response, the rap group described this move as a “calculated political decision” which is a “distraction from war crimes that the British state supports”. Still, they asked supporters to go out of their way to be compliant with the rules, “irrespective of how pitiful”.
Kneecap has taken a stance against Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 60,000 people and reduced much of the enclave to rubble since it began in October 2023. Hezbollah began cross-border attacks into Israel shortly after Israel launched the assault, saying at the time that it was acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
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Since Hezbollah was banned in the United Kingdom in 2019, it has been an offence to show support for the Iran-aligned group.
O hAnnaidh’s lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution case should be thrown out, as O hAnnaidh was formally charged on May 22 this year, one day after the six-month limit for such charges.
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, however, argued that O hAnnaidh was charged on May 21, within the time limit. Judge Paul Goldspring said he would give a decision on September 26.
O hAnnaidh left the court to cheers from supporters, telling the crowd the charge against him was “a distraction from the real story” of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.
Banned organisations
The hearing comes amid growing controversy surrounding support for banned organisations in the UK.
More than 700 people have been arrested, mostly at demonstrations, since the Palestine Action group was outlawed in early July.
The ban came into force days after Palestine Action took responsibility for a break-in at an air force base in southern England that caused an estimated 7 million pounds ($9.5m) of damage to two aircraft.
The group said its activists were responding to the UK’s indirect military support for Israel during the war in Gaza.
Terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Mo Chara adjourned by UK court
Kneecap member Mo Chara was greeted by hundreds of fans and supporters as he arrived for his second court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today. He was also joined by his bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. Ó Dochartaigh. The 27-year-old displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. His defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error. He has once again been released on unconditional bail (similarly to his first court appearance in June) and now faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrownOut. He will appear in court again on 26 September. The Metropolitan Police issued Public Order Act conditions for today’s court date.
Fans held signs which read “Free Mo Chara”, while others waved Palestine and Irish flags and chanted “Free, free Mo Chara.”
He was also joined by his bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court London – 20 August 2025 (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court London – 20 August 2025)
Supporters outside Westminster Magistrates Court London today (Supporters outside Westminster Magistrates Court London today)
Supporters outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court – 20 August 2025 (Supporters outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court – 20 August 2025)
Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.
During the three-hour hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error. Defence counsel Brenda Campbell KC told the court that the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on 21 May. However, Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said permission was not required until the defendant’s first court appearance.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said the case was adjourned.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has yet to enter a plea but denied wrongdoing. He has once again been released on unconditional bail (similarly to his first court appearance in June) and now faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrown out.
He will appear in court again on 26 September.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, second right, speaks to supporters as he departs Westminster Magistrates Court London (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, second right, speaks to supporters as he departs Westminster Magistrates Court London)
Speaking outside the courts today, Mo Chara thanked supporters for coming and said: “We know this story is more than just about me. It’s more than Kneecap; this is a story about Palestine and us as a distraction from the real story.”
He added: “We know, unfortunately, this story will end up in the media today, while Israel commits genocide at the same time. So, everybody, continue to speak about Palestine. Free Palestine.”
Supporters at Westminster Magistrates Court London – 20 August 2025 (Supporters at Westminster Magistrates Court London – 20 August 2025)
On Tuesday evening, the Metropolitan Police issued Public Order Act conditions for today’s court date.
The conditions were being enacted to “prevent serious disruption being caused by a protest” outside the court, stated the Metropolitan Police.
Kneecap reacted to these Public Order Act conditions, writing on X: “We massively appreciate the support of what we know are the majority of the public, who can see this farce for what it is. It is a distraction from war crimes that the British State support. In our view this police action is designed to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome.”
Their post continued: “It is a calculated political decision the night before Mo Chara’s court appearance. There is no basis for this, our last hearing was entirely peaceful and a loving show of solidarity with the most disruptive attendees the right wing media. We know all of our supporters will be, but please go out of your way to be compliant with all instructions issued, irrespective of how pitiful. Free Palestine.”