Huge crowd gathers as Kneecap’s Mo Chara appears in court over terrorism charges: “We are on the right side of history”

Kneecap‘s Mo Chara appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday June 18) on terror charges – where was greeted by a huge crowd of fans and pro-Palestine protestors as the band declared: “We are on the right side of history”.

• Read More: Kneecap on the cover – giving peace, protest and partying a chance

The controversial Belfast rap trio have seen their profile on the rise and courted more international controversy and headlines since their Coachella 2025 appearance in April. This saw them amplify their long-held pro-Palestine messaging by displaying the words “Fuck Israel” on the screens, while telling the US crowd that “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people… it is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes” .

Then, Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27 – found himself charged over an alleged incident where he reportedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a Kneecap show last November. Hezbollah is listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government.

It then emerged that counter-terror police were assessing footage from their O2 Forum Kentish Town show in London which showed a member shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah,” along with Ó hAnnaidh reportedly flying a Hezbollah flag. The band responded to the news by posting a graphic, reading: “18 Months Of Genocide Footage Not Under Investigation By UK Counter-Terror Police”. The graphic was then captioned with the words: “Some facts.”

Responding to the charge at the time, the group said that they deny the offence and will “vehemently defend ourselves”. “This is political policing,” they wrote. “This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.”

Kneecap have consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah, and said that they do not incite or condone violence. They have also argued that the footage at the UK shows had been taken out of context, and described the legal action as a “carnival of distraction”.

After urging fans to show their support for Chara at Westminster with “a big bag of ket” – and posting billboards across London with the message “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara” – a huge crowd gathered outside the Magistrates’ Court this morning in a show of solidarity.

Paul Weller was spotted among the supporters (see above). The soloist and former Jam frontman had previously signed an open letter by Love Music Hate Racism, which rallied “against the attempts to silence [Kneecap] for speaking out for Gaza”. Weller attended the group’s show in London last November, as did Noel Gallagher. Elsewhere, Kneecap appeared on the bill alongside Weller at a Gig For Gaza charity concert in late 2024.

Fans were heard singing Irish folk songs and holding signs that read ‘Free Palestine, ‘Free Mo Chara’, and ‘Defend Kneecap: Drop The Charges’. Some waved Palestinian flags too, cars on the main road beeped in support, and there was also a platform where activists could give political speeches.

Inside the court, Og O hAnnaidh simply confirmed his name and Belfast address and was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on August 20.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him he must attend court on that day.

Speaking outside the court, a Kneecap spokesperson spoke of the hundreds of concerts the band had played “without a single complaint”.

“Around the world, Kneecap are hailed as heroes,” he continued, before hitting out at the British courts for a “rushed prosecution following their Coachella performance, where Kneecap did not shy away from speaking their truth to power.”

He went on: “The reality is that Kneecap will stand up against political oppression, to defend their rights and the rights of artists and people all around the world. It is not new for Irish people to be prosecuted under special powers for terrorism acts.”

While speaking up for freedom of expression and freedom to protest while accusing Israel of humanitarian atrocities, he added: “Be not afraid, we are on the right side of history.”

The band’s Moglai Bap then took to the mic to speak up for the cause, before inviting fans to see them at Glastonbury and at their upcoming Wembley Arena show.

Earlier this week, the band expressed their confidence in winning this legal battle against the UK government by listing their legal team.

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Our legal team for the fight which begins in London on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/hXiUVItJWM

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 13, 2025

“The British establishment is conducting a campaign of against Kneecap which is to be fought at Westminster Magistrate’s Court,” they wrote. “We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us. We are on the right side of history, you are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.”

Their team included 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.

Alongside them were Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law (solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland), Brenda Campbell KC (defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack of 1998 in Omagh), and Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC (who both acted in the non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15’s successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa).

Remaining defiant against the case, this morning the band posted: “Today 51 people were murdered trying to get flour from a US/Israeli company pretending to be a charity… Meanwhile tomorrow they will try label Mo Chara a terrorist. The whole world can see the deep evil of Israel and the UK government who arm and cheer them on. FREE PALESTINE.”

Last year saw the band release their critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Fine Art‘ as well as their BAFTA-winning self-titled biopic film.

The band are set to return to Glastonbury next week with the BBC vowing to televise their set while maintaining their broadcast guidelines. Their set is scheduled for the West Holts stage on the Saturday and will take place at 4pm.

Recently, organisers confirmed that the band will remain on the line-up despite pressures from MPs. Meanwhile, Love Music Hate Racism recently shared a statement saying that the charity “stands with Kneecap”, and Toddla T has spoken out against a secret letter from the “musical elite” – that was reportedly written to try and have the group kicked off the Glastonbury 2025 bill.

Another letter was put forward by the band’s label Heavenly Recordings, supporting the right to freedom of expression for musicians and artists. It was made as direct response to the efforts from politicians to have Kneecap removed from festival line-ups this summer.

Others who signed included the likes of Tom Morello, Brian Eno, CMAT, Pulp, Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Massive Attack, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Enter Shikari, English Teacher, The Pogues, Lankum, Sleaford Mods and Thin Lizzy.

As well as putting their name on the letter, Massive Attack also defended Kneecap by sharing a statement that read: “Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story… And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British government is the real story.”

While there has been pressure from some MPs to have Kneecap dropped from their festival appearances this summer, there has also been mounting pressure from many artists and creatives for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “end UK complicity” in Gaza. Among the 300 who signed the letter included Dua Lipa, Primal Scream and Benedict Cumberbatch, Massive Attack, Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, director Danny Boyle, Game Of Thrones star Lena Headey, Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan, Tilda Swinton and more.

Live events including Germany’s Hurricane Festival and Southside Festivals, Cornwall’s Eden Project, and Scotland’s TRNSMT have dropped Kneecap from their line-ups amid controversy. The trio did play a defiant set at Wide Awake Festival in London recently, shortly after holding a warm-up show at the city’s 100 Club.

As well as Glasto, 2000trees have kept Kneecap on their set as 2025 headliners – promising fans that the appearance will be “monumental” – and Bilbao BBK Live recently added the group to the bill following them having their slot at TRNSMT axed. The band have also announced the aforementioned massive headline show at London’s Wembley Arena.

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