Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged by the UK Counter Terrorism Unit with a terrorist offence.
The Kneecap member known as Mo Chara was charged for displaying a Hezbollah flag at the band’s gig in O2 Forum, Kentish Town on November 21st.
Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 18 June, where he will face the charge that the Met Police say his display of the flag arouses “reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hizballah.”
Liam O’Hanna, 27, (16.10.97) of Belfast has been charged, via postal requisition, with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed organisation, namely:
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.
It seems like the UK will try to make an example of Kneecap’s actions, but proving Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is a member of Hizballah feels like a particularly high bar.
The band previously brought the UK government to court and won over funding that was withheld from the band due to former business secretary Kemi Badenoch saying the band were anti-British.
The video of the gig was unearthed in the wake of criticism of the band speaking out against Israel at Coachella. It shows the band member draped in a Hezbollah flag while they say “Free Palestine, Free The Six Counties, Tocfaidh Ar La, Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”
Kneecap appear to have given their support to Hamas last November in London at their concert @O2ForumKTown. One member, draped in a Hezbollah flag, shouted to the crowd "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
— Danny Morris (@DannyMMorris) April 21, 2025
Watch below 🎥 pic.twitter.com/DidT6IxulE
The band’s manager appeared on Irish TV and radio in the aftermath, and argued the video was taken out of context, and it was a concerted campaign to take the band down by people who were offended by the band’s statement on genocide.
A second video where a Kneecap member is says – “Kill your local MP” is also being investigated by Counter terrorism police.
It was all quiet there for the last few weeks on the Kneecap controversy front until today, other than some of the London festival Wide Awake confirming the band’s performance this coming weekend – Friday May 23rd.
A timeline of Kneecap’s Coachella and pro-Palestine controversies
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
