Kneecap Defiant In Face Of Criminal Charge
By Daniel Rankin
The West Belfast Irish-language rap group Kneecap have seen significant controversy in the past months, for revelations of Móglaí Bap in 2023 saying on stage “The only good Tory is a dead Tory – kill your local MP”, as well as condemnation of their prolific pro-Palestine image.
Even prior to the recent revelations of Mo Chara – who has now been charged by British police on a terror offence in showing a flag of Hezbollah on stage in November – there were explicit calls, some successful, for the group to be removed from public performances, including German concerts in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne [1], and June’s Eden Project in Cornwall [2]. Their performance at one of the biggest music festivals in the US in April – Coachella – saw celebrities such as Sharon Osbourne calling for the revocation of their visas.
The terror charge on Mo Chara
Mo Chara – stage name of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – was charged on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Police, with their public statement reading:
“On 21 November 2024, in a public place, namely the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, displayed an article, namely a flag, in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hizballah, contrary to section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000” [3].
The Met announced that the investigation by its Counter-Terrorism Command began on 22 April, which corresponds to the timing of rising controversy. Ó hAnnaidh faces a terror charge, for which he will be at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June [3].
However, the group both appeared at a surprise gig in London on Thursday, and at the Wide Awake festival on Friday night, which they dedicated to Gaza, donating their headlining fee to Médecins Sans Frontières [4].
On social media, they ended the announcement of their Thursday gig with “maybe they need a bloody good kneecapping” – which John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten – leader of the Sex Pistols – said in condemnation of them [5].
Interestingly, much of the British press have employed solely the anglicised spelling of Mo Chara’s surname, “O’Hanna”, including Sky News, LBC, The Daily Mail and The Mirror.
“The Recap”
Just hours before their performance at Wide Awake on Friday, the group released a single, “The Recap”, covering a Sky News bulletin depicting the criminal investigation into the band. Characteristic of the band, the lyrics expressed continued defiance, closing with (in English) [6],
Good effort, Kemi
Hard lines in the elections
Onwards and upwards
Free Palestine
Beyond views on the Middle East, some have condemned specifically Móglaí Bap’s “kill your local MP” comments, with the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess receiving an apology on X (Twitter), denying “that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.” [7] However, the former’s husband, Brendan Cox, described it as “only half an apology” [8].
To many however, these developments appear to manifest a distraction to the crisis in Gaza, with Israel now escalating a war that has left between at least 50-70,000 dead in the past 20 months. On the 15th May alone, during the renewed offensive, Israel killed nearly 150 Palestinians, the greatest number in one day since the end of the ceasefire in March [9].
References
[1] Breslin, J., “Three Kneecap gigs in Germany cancelled as backlash continues against west Belfast rap trio”. The Irish News, 29 Apr 2025. https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/three-kneecap-gigs-in-germany-cancelled-as-backlash-continues-against-west-belfast-rap-trio-X5PEYBWF6VHYLOL62GT47JZV3M/
[2] Sky News, “Kneecap’s Eden Project gig cancelled amid row over ‘kill MPs’ comments”. Sky News, 29 Apr 2025. https://news.sky.com/story/kneecaps-eden-project-gig-cancelled-amid-row-over-kill-mps-comments-13358275
[3] Metropolitan Police, “Man charged with terrorism offence”. Met Police News, 21 May 2025. https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-charged-with-terrorism-offence-497562
[4] Gecsoyler, S., “Thousands support Kneecap at first big gig since terrorism charge”. The Guardian, 24 May 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/24/thousands-support-kneecap-first-big-gig-since-terrorism-charge
[5] Gouveia, F., Reid, K., “Kneecap star appears with tape over his mouth during surprise gig hours after terror charge as Met confirm ‘policing plan’ at concert”. The Belfast Telegraph, 22 May 2025. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/kneecap-star-appears-with-tape-over-his-mouth-during-surprise-gig-hours-after-terror-charge-as-met-confirm-policing-plan-at-concert/a1554803690.html?errorCode=0
[6] StringBeanJen, “KNEECAP, ‘The Recap’ @ Wide Awake @ Brockwell Park, 23.5.25”. YouTube, 24 May 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfglBIQM9I
[7] BBC News, “Kneecap apologises to families of two murdered MPs”. BBC News, 29 Apr 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrvx04e1e6o
[8] Doyle, C., “Kneecap should give ‘real apology’, husband of murdered MP says”. BBC News, 29 Apr 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dg2z399gyo
[9] DemocracyNow, “Israel Kills 150 Palestinians in Gaza in Bloodiest Day Since It Shattered Ceasefire”. DemocracyNow, 16 May 2025. https://www.democracynow.org/2025/5/16/headlines/israel_kills_150_palestininians_in_gaza_in_bloodiest_day_since_it_shattered_ceasefire
