Kneecap member Liam O’Hanna charged with terrorism offence
Liam O’Hanna, a member of the group Kneecap, has been charged with a terrorism offence.
The 27-year-old from Belfast has been charged by postal requisition with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation.
The charge relates to an incident on November 21 last year at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, where O’Hanna is alleged to have displayed a flag in a public place in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted as showing support for Hezbollah.
The offence falls under section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command was alerted to an online video from the event on April 22.
Following an investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge mentioned above.
O’Hanna is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18.
Kneecap is a hip hop trio from Belfast, Northern Ireland, consisting of members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, the stage names of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Liam O’Hanna) , Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh, respectively.
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Known for blending English and Irish in their lyrics, the group released their debut single “C.E.A.R.T.A.” (the Irish word for “rights”) in 2017.
This was followed by their first studio album 3CAG in 2018.
Their second album, Fine Art, came out in 2024, the same year a biographical film about the group was also released.
The group’s music explores themes of working-class youth culture in Belfast, Irish republicanism, and advocacy for Irish language rights.
Their name references the extrajudicial punishment attacks historically carried out by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.