Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh to appear in London court on Wednesday
Ellen O'Donoghue
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18th, charged with an alleged terror offence.
Rapper Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is to be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court.
The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.
The court appearance is a day before the Kneecap's sold-out Fairview Park concert in Dublin.
On Instagram this week, the trio's account posted a photo with the caption, "Wee update for all the legends headed to Fairview Park on Thursday. Flags are allowed but flag poles aren't.
"Little court date before then but see yis soon x."
On Tuesday, the group revealed that they had "plastered London with a few messages" ahead of the court date.
The messages, consisting of text saying "More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara", a reference to signs that showed up in some properties for rent in London in the 1950s.
Ó hAnnaidh's legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghralaigh KC.
In an Instagram post last week, the group said: “The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap, which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.”
In May, the Metropolitan Police 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”.
They apologised 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.
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 and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music.
Formed in 2017, the group, made up of Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, is known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language.
