Man detained by police outside Kneecap court house hearing

A MAN has been detained by police outside the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared on Wednesday. 

The Metropolitan Police had imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court could take place, saying they were needed to “prevent serious disruption”.

A man was detained by police outside the court building because of a placard he was holding following the hearing.

The Met said the suspect remains in custody on suspicion of supporting proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action.

Surrounded by officers, he told reporters his hand-made sign made no reference to any proscribed organisations, which includes the banned group Palestine Action.

Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside the court building in London, as well as in Dublin.

It comes as Og O hAnnaidh (below), who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrown out following a hearing on Wednesday morning. 

(Image: PA)

Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.

During Wednesday’s hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.

Brenda Campbell KC told the court the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on May 21.

She said consent was given the following day, but that meant the charge falls outside of the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought.

Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said permission was not required until the defendant’s first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.