by
Juno Daily
on 18.06.2025 at 17:21pm.
Last edited: 18.06.2025 at 17:25pm.
Hearing comes a day after Smiths guitarist lends support
Kneecap’s Mo Chara was today granted unconditional bail on a controversial terror charge linked to an alleged display of support for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
A crowd of supporters of the Irish band estimated to be close to 1,000 by Juno Daily’s reporter arrived for the morning hearing today (Wednesday June 18) in Baker Street, Central London, chanting pro-Palestinan slogans and waved Irish and Palestinian flags as well as banners supporting free speech.
Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, arrived sporting a Palestinian-style keffiyeh scarf and spoke only to confirm his identity during a preliminary hearing before legal arguments begin on August 20. If convicted, he faces up to six months in prison and a fine.
The case rests on footage from a Kneecap concert at London’s Kentish Town Forum in November 2024 which, it has been alleged, shows Mo Chara wearing a Hezbollah flag and shouting, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” Public support of Hamas and Hezbollah is prohibited in the UK under anti-terror laws.
The hearing came a day after former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr took to Instagram to lend his support to the Irish rap trio, defending their right to political and artistic freedom during their show at Glastonbury next weekend.
After being granted unconditional bail by the court, Chara left the building to prepare for the trio’s show in Dublin’s Fairview Park tomorrow (Friday June 19).
Pictures by kind permission of John Cleary
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