Rap trio kneecap issue lengthy statement after liam o’hanna terrorism charge

IRISH RAP TRIO KNEECAP HAVE BROKEN THEIR SILENCE WITH A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING BAND MEMBER LIAM O'HANNA, AKA MO CHARA, WAS CHARGED WITH A TERRORISM OFFENCE 22:38, 21 May

2025Updated 22:40, 21 May 2025 Film stars and Irish rap trio Kneecap have spoken out after one of their members was charged with a terrorism offence. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is

'Mo Chara', was charged with displaying a flag in support of terrorist group Hezbollah. Counter terror police assessed a clip reported to be from a Kneecap concert at the O2 Forum

in Kentish Town, London from November. O'Hanna, or Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. He was charged with displaying a flag at the

north London gig on 21 November, "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation". In a post on X the

band, which consists of fellow members Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaig, shared a video from an RTE clip. They said: "Recorded in January and just aired on RTE tv now.

"'I don't want to be 80, 90 years of age and my grandkids asking me about the Palestinian genocide? Me sitting there being like f**k, I didn't do enough. Article

continues below "I don't wanna be on that side of history. If it comes down to awards or breaking America by sacrifice what you believe in, then America can go f**k itself.'

"We are clearer than ever on who we are and what we stand for. We will have a short statement soon. FREE PALESTINE." Last month the Irish rap outfit were dropped from their slated

appearance at the Eden Project's illustrious Eden Sessions music extravaganza this July amid a swirling controversy. A representative for the summer event said: "Eden Sessions

Limited announced today that the Kneecap show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4 2025 has been cancelled. Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded." The

Met said it would investigate videos allegedly showing a band member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory" and "Kill your local MP" and shouting "up Hamas, up

Hezbollah". A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said at the time: "We were made aware of a video on 22 April, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been

referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required. Kneecap said they have never supported

Hamas or Hezbollah, denied any intention to instigate violence and apologised to the families of murdered MPs, adding: "We reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence

against any MP or individual. Ever." The band also decried the misuse of their footage and said: "An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being

exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. Article continues below "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you

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