A member of rap group Kneecap has appeared in court on a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Hundreds of fans welcomed Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the name Liam O'Hanna as he arrived at a London court on Wednesday local time.
Mr Ó hAnnaidh's stage name is Mo Chara.
He is seeking to throw out the terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation in the UK at a London gig last year.
The musician is alleged to have waved the yellow flag of Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London on November 21, 2024.
He is accused of saying "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during the concert as well.
Kneecap have previously said the flag was thrown on stage during their performance.
The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
Mr Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with the Palestinian cause and sat alongside an Irish language interpreter.
His band mates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, stage name Móglaí Bap, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who goes by DJ Próvaí, were also in court, with supporters filling the court's public gallery.
His lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution should be thrown out, as Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged on May 22 this year — one day after the six-month limit for such charges.
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, however, argued that the accused was charged on May 21, exactly within the time limit. Judge Paul Goldspring is expected to issue a ruling in a number of weeks' time.
The case was adjourned until September 26 and Mr Ó hAnnaidh was released on continuing unconditional bail.
Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously described the charge as an attempt to silence them.
The group — which raps about Irish identity and supports the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland — have been increasingly vocal about the war in Gaza since Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged.
Kneecap led a 30,000-strong crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in June in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and accused Israel of committing war crimes in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, an accusation Israel denies.
ABC/Reuters
