A concert in London in November 2024, Ó hAnnaidh displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah This alleged statement led to Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terrorism-related offense in May.
A UK court has ruled that the terrorism charges against rapper Mo Chara (real name Liam Og O hAnnaidh) can’t proceed due to a legal technicality. On Friday, Chara was presented at Woolwich Crown Court, where Paul Goldspring delivered the judgment: “Proceedings against the defendant were instituted unlawfully and are null.”
Rich Peppiatt’s biopic Kneecap earned international acclaim for the Irish hip hop trio. When Belfast teacher JJ crosses paths with Naoise and Liam Óg—who jokingly call themselves “low life scum”—it sparks a hip hop act unlike anything else. Rapping in Irish, they kick off a movement to protect their native language. Featuring Mo Chara, Móglai Bap, and DJ Provaí the cast also includes Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, and Adam Best.
Kneecap premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, marking the first Irish-language film to do so, before releasing in the U.S. on August 2, 2024, in Ireland on August 8, and in the UK on August 23. Running at 105 minutes and blending both Irish and English dialogue.
Kneecap is a Belfast-based Irish hip hop trio known for their bold lyrics and cultural edge. Back in 2017, Kneecap introduced themselves with “C.E.A.R.T.A.”, their first single. The next year came their debut album, “3CAG”. Fast forward to 2024, they released “Fine Art” and saw their story hit the big screen with a biopic.
Daniel Lambert stated X, saying: “We have won Liam Og is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did (Twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER. Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not.”