In pics: Kneecap fans gather outside court in support of Mo Chara
27-year-old Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known as Mo Chara, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday following the alleged incident during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London.
The charge Og O hAnnaidh faces alleges he displayed a flag in a public place, 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation' – namely, Hezbollah. Kneecap Pic: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images
A microphone stand was being set up behind metal barriers that had been erected to create an area for fans. Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images
Austrian Alexandra Kennedy, who had travelled from her home country to show support, said: 'I think that Kneecap are important to so many people that if Liam Og O hAnnaidh gets a heavy sentence, then maybe people will lose something, they need the connection to Kneecap. Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images
'They trigger good and they trigger strong feelings.' Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images
She said many of Kneecap's fans seek solace in their music while suffering mental health issues. Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images
Ms Kennedy said the rap group should 'be aware of the social responsibility they have. It's not only music, it's much more than this'. Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images
Fans could be seen with placards saying Free Mo Chara, referring to the rapper's stage name, and Defend Kneecap.
A large green flag saying Free Speech, Free Palestine was also on display.
The small crowd cheered as an ad van emblazoned with the support slogan used for Mo Chara – More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara – drove past the court.
Kneecap described the prosecution as a 'witch hunt' in a post on X on Tuesday evening.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Oisin Murphy gets away with a slap on the wrist as BHA refuse to take stronger action
'HAVE you been waiting long?' Oisin Murphy seemed pretty relaxed as he greeted a group of photographers who were waiting for him to arrive at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday lunchtime. Advertisement 2 Oisin Murphy pleaded guilty to drink driving on Thursday Credit: PA His arrival had been signalled when his driver was spotted peering around a corner to check if the coast was clear. It wasn't. There was barely a spare seat in the public gallery as Oisin was called into Court 3, where one member of the press raised concerns to the clerk about being able to hear what was being said. 'There are microphones,' he replied. 'And there is nowhere else for you to go, unless you want to go in the dock?' While many in the racing fraternity would probably enjoy seeing journos up in front of the beak, the moment of levity lasted briefly as we were all here for a very serious reason. Advertisement Oisin only spoke to confirm details such as his name and date of birth, and to He was only breathalysed by cops SEVEN hours after the crash, and he was still nearly twice the legal limit at seven in the morning. It is unclear why he wasn't asked for a plea on the second charge — failing to provide a sample at the roadside — which was described as a 'misunderstanding' by the prosecutor Richard Atkins. The resulting sentence was a 20-month driving ban and a £70,000 fine. For a very wealthy young jockey who has his own driver, you could argue it's no more than a firm slap on the wrist. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing I found it most surprising the BHA, bar adding some new conditions to Oisin's licence and expressing their 'disappointment', have decided to take no further action. For now, at least. As A glaring example came on last weekend's Luck On Sunday show, when Jayne McGivern, a stud owner who is overseeing a multi-million pound construction project in Saudia Arabia, gave her view. She said: 'He's a wonderful guy, an absolute superstar. Jockeys risk their lives every time they get on a horse. We can't possibly understand the pressures. Advertisement 'He has battled demons and sometimes the demons win. We need more understanding and empathy in this case for Oisin. 'It didn't happen on a racecourse or near a horse. It's his private life and it's nothing to do with us.' That, in a nutshell, is what's wrong with so many in this sport — especially racing's elite or establishment figures. They do not take it seriously, many excuse and indulge Oisin and, quite frankly, enable his destructive behaviour. Advertisement And Joe Public can't possibly criticise or comment because, well, jockeys are under pressure. Another excuse. I'm of the view that this 'nothing to see here' attitude sends a message to Oisin that he can keep pushing the limits while retaining all his privilege, which is a very dangerous place to be. So I'm not sure why the BHA felt it wasn't necessary to take firmer action — I think it's weak and I don't think it's helpful to Oisin. After all, they were the ones who put conditions on his licence in the first place when he returned from his ban in February 2023 and emphasised the strict requirement to 'remain sober'. Advertisement There are plenty of examples out there of tough BHA action but here is one I thought I'd share, for all it's not a perfect comparison. In 2020, they banned conditional jockey Callum McKinnes for 56 days for a riding offence which the judicial panel said brought racing 'into disrepute'. He was riding a 150-1 shot at Hereford that finished a distant fifth, but they reckon he 'should have finished fourth'. So not riding with enough vigour to finish fourth on a rank outsider is considered disreputable, but crashing a car while carrying a passenger and nearly twice the drink-drive limit isn't? Hmm. 2 The man who took photos of Oisin in court reacts angrily to photographers in Reading Advertisement The drama continued after Oisin had left to fly to the US. A member of the public had taken photos of him in court and was hauled into the dock Oisin had just been occupying, given a severe bollocking by the judge and threatened with arrest. What a circus — which is pretty apt considering the last few years of Oisin's turbulent career. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
French cops FINALLY drag small boat packed with migrants back to shore… with BBC crew conveniently on hand to film it
FRENCH cops have finally been captured tackling small boats in the water… while a BBC camera crew were conveniently on hand to film it. For months, the officers across the Channel have been slammed for refusing to get their feet wet and Advertisement 6 The cops were spotted using knives to slash the boats Credit: BBC 6 French officers have repeatedly faced criticism for refusing to get their feet wet Credit: BBC 6 Young men attempting to cross the Channel watched on as their boat was slashed Credit: BBC 6 Last month, French boarder guards were pictured standing on a beach taking pictures as yet another boat-load of migrants set sale Credit: PA Critics say that £500million of taxpayer cash given to France has only turned its beaches into 'the world's most expensive sieve'. It was widely reported last month that the French were stopping a record low number of migrants from crossing, intercepting fewer than 40 per cent of people. Last month, French boarder guards were pictured standing on a beach taking pictures as yet another boat-load of migrants set sale. Patrols with jeeps, quad bikes and drones were pictured on the sand earlier this week - but smugglers still managed to launch more dinghies. Advertisement Read more News In chaotic scenes today - with a BBC camera crew on hand to film - officers finally appeared to intervene and slashed the boats with knives. With a reporter and cameras on hand to film the action at Boulogne-Sur-Mer this morning , cops were whipped into action. The officers are first seen arming themselves with the knives as they arrive on the beach in buggies - paid for by the UK - before the camera cuts to them slicing the side of the boat. Migrants and smugglers can be heard screaming and shouting at the officers as as the rubber dinghy begins to sink. Advertisement Most read in The Sun They have repeatedly claimed that entering the water is legally complex and too dangerous for the migrants. The number of arrivals to the UK has hit a record 20,000 since the start of the year. On Monday alone, 879 reached British shores, the third biggest daily total in 2025. Sir Keir Starmer has faced pressure to deliver on his promise to ' smash the gangs ', fuelling the crisis. Advertisement French cops handed millions in UK taxpayer-funded gear are still failing to stop boat crossings The Prime Minister and French President next week for a State visit and a summit focused on tackling The UK first signed a deal with France under the last Tory government, with nearly £500million committed to extra patrols, surveillance drones, vehicles and riot vans. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: 'Record numbers of young undocumented males have crossed this year thanks to French beaches being the world's most expensive sieve — this is a disaster for the country. 'They are costing us money, making us less safe, and they bring a terrorist threat. Advertisement 'This will only get worse under the weakest Prime Minister I have ever seen.' The leaders are also preparing to unveil a new 'one in, one out' migrant returns deal — sending some But the Tories have branded the plan a 'fantasy' and demanded their Rwanda scheme be reinstated. Shadow Home Secretary Advertisement 'It's become a free-for-all. 'We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed outside Europe. 'The crossings will then rapidly stop.' The PM's spokesman said the figures were 'clearly unacceptable'. Advertisement They added: 'But let's be clear, gangs have been allowed to embed industrial-scale smuggling enterprises across Europe, whilst our own asylum system collapsed through failed policies like . 'But we are taking action.' The spokesman pointed to arrests of gang leaders, thousands of boat seizures, and closer ties with France. The Ministry of Justice confirmed legal aid fees for immigration and asylum cases will rise by 30 per cent, marking the first increase in almost three decades. Advertisement 6 Sir Keir Starmer has faced pressure to deliver on his promise to 'smash the gangs' Credit: BBC 6 Migrants were on the boat when officers popped it Credit: BBC
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap suggested as 'secret set' to replace Bob Vylan for festival
Kneecap were suggested as a replacement for Bob Vylan by organisers of a festival who dropped the punk duo after Glastonbury. Bob Vylan's performance at Radar festival in Manchester was cancelled after singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, led crowds in chants of "death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" during their Saturday afternoon set at Glastonbury. Speaking on the 2 Promoters, 1 Pod podcast, Radar organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith said the festival was "forced into a position" they did not want to take in dropping the band from their upcoming headline slot this Saturday. On acts that could replace Bob Vylan, Ms Jackson-Smith said her colleague Joe had suggested a Kneecap "secret set" in order to "make a statement". "You can say nothing publicly but if you go and book, and as I did mention, Joe's first response was, 'What if we did Kneecap as a secret set?' because that makes a statement, and it makes a statement without having to make a statement and that is what we wanted to do so we are going through options," she said. "We might end up with somebody that has no discernible political opinion in any manner at this point because if they're free and they could play on Saturday, maybe that is the criteria that we're looking for at this stage." Irish rap trio Kneecap, whose member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara, appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence, performed on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury after Bob Vylan. As of Friday afternoon, Radar has not announced a replacement for Bob Vylan and the festival's website lists the Saturday line-up as "headliner TBA (to be announced)". Of the conversation Radar organisers had with Bob Vylan, Ms Jackson-Smith said it was "one of the most horrendous professional discussions" she has ever had. "I cannot express clearly enough that I wanted Bob Vylan to perform at our festival," she said. "Bob Vylan know that we wanted to book them. Why else would we have booked them?" she added. "And Bob Vylan also know that we didn't want to pull them, because we tried our hardest not to do that… but ultimately, it still ends at the same point the headlines will be 'Radar festival pulled Bob Vylan'." Bob Vylan issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they were being "targeted for speaking up". It has emerged that Bob Vylan were already under investigation by police for comments made at a performance one month before Glastonbury. Video footage appears to show Bobby Vylan at Alexandra Palace telling crowds: "Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF." The duo have had their US visas revoked before their tour later this year and have been pulled from an upcoming performance at a German music festival, following their appearance at Glastonbury. They are currently expected to perform at the Boardmasters surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August. The group was formed in Ipswich in 2017, and are known for addressing political issues in their albums including racism, masculinity and class.
