The Belfast rap group Kneecap say they have been forced to cancel 15 US tour dates in October due to one of their member’s forthcoming UK court hearing in relation to a terror charge.
Liam Og Ó hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, will return to Westminster magistrates’ court on September 26, after his legal team argued that the case should be thrown out because of a technical error in the way the charge was brought against him.
Ó hAnnaidh was accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed militant group, during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November.
Liam Og Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on August 20, when the case was adjourned
AUBREY FAGON/ALAMY
Crowds chanted “Free Mo Chara” and waved Palestinian flags outside the court in support of the rapper
VUK VALCIC/ZUMA PRESS
At the hearing in September, Judge Paul Goldspring will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.
In a social media post on Monday, the band said: “To all our US based fans we have some bad news.
“Due to the proximity of our next court hearing in London to the first date of the tour, as the British government continues its witch-hunt, we will have to cancel all 15 US tour dates in October.
“With every show fully sold out, to tens of thousands of fans, this is news we are sad to deliver. But once we win our court case, which we will, we promise to embark on an even bigger tour to all you great heads.”
Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs as Moglaí Bap
THOMAS KRYCH/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES
The group said that refunds for tickets would be available from point of purchase and promised they would be “sharing something very special” for their US fans next week that would mean “we can still link in with you all in October”.
Kneecap confirmed that their four sold-out October shows in Canada, in Vancouver and Toronto, would go ahead as planned.
The band, comprising Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017.
They hit headlines in April when footage emerged that appeared to show a band member saying “Kill your local MP” at one gig and and “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at another.
JJ Ó Dochartaigh, known as DJ Provai, at Rock en Seine
GUILLAUME BAPTISTE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs and said that they had “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.
The band were also investigated over their set at the Glastonbury Festival in June, but Avon and Somerset police said in July that they would be taking no further action.
Known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way to Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and The Recap.
It was unclear whether Kneecap had secured US visas for the tour. In April, the group lost its visa sponsor after it displayed anti-Israel comments at the Coachella festival in California.