Charging Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh with a terror offence is an attempt to “silence voices of compassion,” the band has claimed.
London’s Metropolitan Police have been investigating the group since last month, following a number of alleged statements that have created international controversy.
In a statement on social media, Kneecap said Mr Ó hAnnaidh denied the offence and vowed to “vehemently defend ourselves”.
They added the charge was "political policing" and a "carnival of distraction" from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Kneecap at the IFTAs. Picture by: Alamy.com.“As they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag on stage,” Kneecap said.
“A charge not even serious to warrant their ‘crown court’, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury. What’s the objective?”
On Newstalk Breakfast, Belfast-based journalist Amanda Ferguson said the charge relates to Britain's Terrorism Act 2000.
“Liam, who is 27 and from Belfast, has been charged by a postal requisition which is like a summons - but it’s something that’s sent by the police, rather than the court - in relation to a gig of Kneecap’s in November in London,” she said.
“He has been charged with displaying 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 prescribed organisation.
“Namely, Hezbollah which is contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.”
"We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine".@KNEECAPCEOL has released a statement in response to member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terrorism offence over displaying a flag of Hezbollah at a gig in… pic.twitter.com/Z66Ng3p7xq
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) May 22, 2025
While there has been commentary about the charge on social media, Northern Ireland’s politicians have yet to weigh in with their views.
“Our email inboxes aren’t full yet, the political establishment are holding fire on this one as such,” Ms Ferguson said.
“I think this is going to raise a lot of questions around freedom of expression, around artistic licence and around satire and so on.”
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said, “An investigation was carried out, which led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the above charge.”
Main image: Kneecap. Picture by: Alamy.com
