Rapper released on unconditional bail over terror charge

PA MediaKneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, higher generally known as Mo Chara, leaving Westminster court docket in central LondonA Kneecap rapper has been launched on unconditional bail after showing in a London court docket on a terror cost.Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, charged underneath the title Liam O’Hanna, is accused of displaying a flag in help of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.The 27-year-old, who performs underneath the title Mo Chara, arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom accompanied by band members Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh).Supporters of the Irish language hip-hop group provided a spherical of applause exterior a court docket in London on Wednesday, after the looks. Mr Ó hAnnaidh will seem at court docket for the subsequent listening to on 20 August.The Chief Justice of the Peace advised him he should attend court docket on that day.The choose requested whether or not or not Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh wanted an Irish interpreter to be current in court docket.The choose stated: “We had been going to have one in the present day, however I can be blunt. We could not discover one.”In court docket, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove stated: “This case isn’t about Mr Ó hAnnaidh, help for the individuals of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.”He advised the court docket Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is “effectively inside his rights” to specific his help and solidarity for Palestinians.Defence lawyer Brenda Campbell KC stated: “This can be a easy difficulty. This court docket has no jurisdiction.”The court docket room was full and court docket employees had to herald extra seats for journalists.Contained in the court docket had been representatives of the Irish language foyer and politicians John Finucane and Paul Maskey.TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockOne of the individuals protesting exterior Westminster court docket forward of the listening to of Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidhIn an announcement, posted on social media in Could, Kneecap stated: “We deny this ‘offence’ and can vehemently defend ourselves.”The band arrived at court docket on Wednesday carrying “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts.Musicians, supporters, and activists crowded exterior court docket. Massive inexperienced flags saying “Free Speech, Free Palestine” are additionally on show.A mix of Palestinian and Kneecap flags had been being held by among the crowd, and cheers had been heard after a van drove previous displaying the slogan “Extra Blacks, Extra Canines, Extra Irish, Mo Chara”.The slogan is a spin on a well known discriminatory phrase discovered exterior some UK boarding homes from the Fifties.Kneecap stated it had “plastered” London with messages of help for its band member.PA MediaFellow band member Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom to help Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara)EPAA massive crowd exterior the court docket in London on WednesdayWho are Kneecap?Getty ImagesThe group go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ PróvaíThe movie gained a British Academy of Movie Award (Bafta) in February 2025.In April, the group confronted criticism after displaying messages concerning the warfare in Gaza throughout their set at US music competition Coachella.In November 2024, the group gained its case in opposition to the UK authorities over a call Kemi Badenoch took when she was a minister to withdraw an arts grant.