A Belfast rapper has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of a terrorism offence after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert in 2024. The case has reignited controversy around the band Kneecap.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh—whose stage name is Mo Chara—has been charged under the Terrorism Act.
The 27-year-old faces allegations of publicly supporting a proscribed organisation, an offence under UK law.
The hearing was expected to consider whether the charge was brought too late and should be dismissed.
The band has previously stated that the Hezbollah flag was thrown on stage and described the charge as an attempt to ‘silence’ them.
Kneecap has previously faced restrictions abroad: the group has been banned from performing at the Sziget Festival in Hungary.
Hungarian officials cited the band’s history of antisemitic statements and open praise for terrorist groups. Zoltán Kovács, international spokesman for the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, emphasized “zero tolerance for antisemitism” and the government’s duty to protect Hungarian, especially Jewish communities.
