Kneecap’s Mo Chara was greeted with hundreds of fans showing their support as he appeared in court in London to face a terrorism charge.
The rapper, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, appeared in the dock accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
The 27-year-old arrived at court on Wednesday with the other two members of the Belfast trio - Naoise O Caireallain, and J J O Dochartaigh.
Outside court hundreds of people turned out with placards and flags in a show of support.
Kneecap said London had been “plastered” with messages of support before the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, with a billboard displaying the words “more blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara” seen in the Lambeth area.
Mo Chara from @KNEECAPCEOL enters the court with thousands outside supporting him #Kneecap pic.twitter.com/z4M9tGIdTb
— Love Music Hate Racism (@lmhrnational) June 18, 2025
Og O hAnnaidh was charged following an alleged incident during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London.
The charge Og O hAnnaidh faces alleges he displayed a flag in a public place, “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation” - namely Hezbollah.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard the 27-year-old is "well within his rights" to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London is a "wholly different thing".
Summarising the allegations against O hAnnaidh, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court: "It's not about Mr O hAnnaidh's support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.
"He's well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else.
"The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.
"Of course, support for the one is not the same as support for the other.
"So the issue in this case, and the reason it has come to court, it centres on the apparent support by Mr O hAnnaidh of a proscribed terrorist organisation."
Wearing a dark zip-up jacket and trousers, the defendant spoke briefly to confirm his identity at the beginning of the hearing.
He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Kneecap described the prosecution as a “witch hunt” in a post on X on Tuesday evening.
A huge scrum of their hundreds of supports greeted them as they slowly made their way to the entrance of the court building.
The band were wearing “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts.
Supporters gathered outside the court building from early in the morning, holding placards saying “Free Mo Chara” and “Defend Kneecap”.
A mixture of Palestinian and Kneecap flags were being held by some of the crowd, and cheers were heard after an ad van drove past displaying the slogan “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara”.
Austrian Alexandra Kennedy, who had travelled from her home country to show support, said: “I think that Kneecap are important to so many people that if Liam Og O hAnnaidh gets a heavy sentence, then maybe people will lose something, they need the connection to Kneecap.”
Copywriter Victoria Ashworth travelled from her home in Brighton with her daughter Lily to attend the protest.
Ms Ashworth, 53, said: “I just feel like the charges are utterly ridiculous. I believe in freedom of speech.”
Police removed a pro-Israel protester who walked into the crowd wearing an Israeli flag which prompted boos, swearing and shouts of “free Palestine”.
The crowd became animated and shouted “Israel is a terrorist state” and “take him out for his own safety” as he made gestures and argued with protesters.
Police surrounded the man as the crowd moved towards him, with protesters cheering as he was removed.
The Metropolitan Police said the force had charged O hAnnaidh, who appears on the court list as Liam O’Hanna, after initially being made aware of a video from the gig at the O2 Forum which had been posted online.
In a separate event shortly after the terrorism charge, O hAnnaidh could be seen in social media videos entering the stage with tape covering his mouth.
The Met previously said Kneecap were under investigation after clips posted online appeared to show the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
The rap trio said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK.
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