A member of rap trio Kneecap was greeted by a whole bunch of supporters as he arrived at courtroom this morning, charged with allegedly supporting a proscribed terror organisation.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs below the title Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in help of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November final yr.
Demonstrators waving flags and holding banners in help of the rapper greeted him with cheers as he made his approach into Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket.
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The rapper is mobbed by followers and media as he arrives at courtroom. Pics: PA
Supported by his Kneecap bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, it took the rapper greater than a minute to enter the constructing as safety officers labored to usher him inside by a crowd of photographers.
Followers held indicators which learn “Free Mo Chara”, whereas others waved Irish and Palestinian flags.
Because the listening to acquired below approach, O hAnnaidh confirmed his title, date of beginning and tackle, with the courtroom listening to an Irish language interpreter could be current.
Throughout a earlier listening to, prosecutors mentioned the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine battle, however mentioned the alleged incident on the O2 Discussion board in Kentish City was a “wholly different thing”.
O hAnnaidh is but to enter a plea to the cost.
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Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters
Who’re Kneecap?
Kneecap put out their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 after the discharge of their debut album and an eponymously titled movie – a fictionalised retelling of how the band got here collectively and their combat to avoid wasting the Irish language.
The movie, during which the trio play themselves and co-star alongside starring Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, gained the BAFTA for excellent debut earlier this yr, for director and author Wealthy Peppiatt.
Final yr, they gained a discrimination case towards the UK authorities after Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was enterprise secretary.
They’re recognized for songs together with H.O.O.D, Fantastic Artwork, and Higher Means To Reside, that includes Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten.
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