A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert, police said on Wednesday.
Liam O’Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is accused of showing support for the Lebanese militant group, who are proscribed by British authorities, during a performance on November 21.
UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
In the Brady, A UK correspondence is with us.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello Inda, Hello Heather, I see you're at the beehive.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Yes we are. Have you ever been here?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I've been past it, yeah, about twenty years ago, and
yeah it's not the prettiest. But then I saw the
German posted early on Instagram, so that's how I know
where you are.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Catching the German. I love it, hey, Indu, So tell
me this is I mean, this is a terrible situation.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
We've got the diplomats being shot at by the Israelis yees.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So there's genuine outrage in many European governments today over this.
It will be a day for Israeli ambassadors to be
called in and I would say given a massive dressing
down over this. So for anyone who hasn't seen what
has happened, there was a group of diplomats, government appointed
diplomats from France, Spain, Ireland. The Russians were there, the
(00:56):
Chinese were there, some Egyptian diplomats as well. These are,
you know, genuine diplomats on a fact finding mission in
the West Bank. And what happened was someone apparently stepped
off a footpath and the Israeli soldier's response was to
fire at them live rounds. These are not plastic bullets,
these were live rounds. Now, the Israeli military say that
(01:18):
there will be an investigation. We know that won't go anywhere.
So what's happening today is we're going to see some
return diplomatic action from those governments. France and Spain in particular.
Ireland won't be calling in the Israeli ambassador because they
left in a huff last year. They felt Ireland was
an anti Semitic country apparently, which is just ridiculous. So
(01:41):
they'll be called in, they'll be given a drissit dressing down.
But you just wonder what goes through someone's head to
fire assault rifles at European diplomats.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, totally, and to explain to me what's going on
with this Irish reper Why was he flying to his
bull of flag.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So they're from West Belfast. They are young Iras Republicans.
They're a group called Kneecap. They were nominated for all
sorts of film awards from BAFTAs. They were in the
running for Oscars last year. They are rappers. It's a
trio from West Belfast. Young guys in their twenties. Lim
o'hannah is one of the lead rappers and he goes
(02:20):
by the stage name Macorra, which is an Irish language phrase.
It means my friend. And what's happened is they've got
extremely popular. They're pushing the Irish language. They're calling for
Ireland to be united again for a thirty two county republic,
and their music is really streaming very well, so they're
making a lot of headlines. What has happened is they've
(02:41):
really upset the establishment here and of course they've upset
Israel because of their support for the Palestinian people and
the people of Gaza in particular. So people have gone
through the internet, they've gone through videos and there is
an allegation that one of them flew a Hezbola flag
at a gig in North London in November. Now Hesbala
(03:02):
is a banned organization in the UK. Support for them
is a political a criminal offense, I should say so.
A letter has been received by this rapper charging him
under counter terrorism legislation. He's due at Westminster Magistrates in June.
But I would say it's possibly the best publicity they
could have ahead of a busy summer of gigs. They're
(03:23):
even playing Glastonbury Festival.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Here, Jayce. Yeah, okay, that is good publicity.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Then hey, in the now, you're going on a break.
But are you actually just going on gigantic run?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yes, so wait for it. I'm very nervous. I'm heading
to South America for the first time in my forty
nine years on God's Earth. I'm heading to Peru. There
is a race in the Amazon starting next Sunday called
the Jungle Ultra two hundred and thirty kilometers. Me marusak,
sleeping bag and some food and a hammock. What could
(03:54):
possibly go wrong?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
How long does it take you to run? Two hundred
and thirty ks?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So it's five marath on in five days, roughly. You run,
you camp, you sleep, you eat, you get up and
go again five times. Some of the fittest people on
Earth are heading there, and I'll be joining them.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So tell me more about this. What are you carrying
your own food?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yes? So it's like dried so it looks like sawdust
and then you add hot water and it turns magically
into carbonara or spaghetti or.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Do you have to carry You don't have to carry
enough water for five days? Do you.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
No, there's water stops every ten kilometers, so I think
the key, Yeah, the key to this will be staying
hydrated using my brain. And you know, there's some people
who are going to compete and they are very very fit,
fast people. Good luck to them. I'm going for the experience.
I'm going to complete and if i can get round
and get a medal at the end, I'll be very
very happy. It's in a place called Manu National Park,
(04:55):
just on the border with Brazil, deep inside the Amazon.
And then yeah, I'm not great with spiders and insects either,
so never mind humidity and altitudes. So let's see. I'll
have some yarns for you when I see you in
a fortnight.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Wow, in the best of luck.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You are honestly a superhuman. Go and look after yourself
and stay stay as safe as possible. Into Brady, UK correspondent.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
In the Brady, A UK correspondence is with us.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello Inda, Hello Heather, I see you're at the beehive.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Yes we are. Have you ever been here?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I've been past it, yeah, about twenty years ago, and
yeah it's not the prettiest. But then I saw the
German posted early on Instagram, so that's how I know
where you are.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Catching the German. I love it, hey, Indu, So tell
me this is I mean, this is a terrible situation.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
We've got the diplomats being shot at by the Israelis yees.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So there's genuine outrage in many European governments today over this.
It will be a day for Israeli ambassadors to be
called in and I would say given a massive dressing
down over this. So for anyone who hasn't seen what
has happened, there was a group of diplomats, government appointed
diplomats from France, Spain, Ireland. The Russians were there, the
(00:56):
Chinese were there, some Egyptian diplomats as well. These are,
you know, genuine diplomats on a fact finding mission in
the West Bank. And what happened was someone apparently stepped
off a footpath and the Israeli soldier's response was to
fire at them live rounds. These are not plastic bullets,
these were live rounds. Now, the Israeli military say that
(01:18):
there will be an investigation. We know that won't go anywhere.
So what's happening today is we're going to see some
return diplomatic action from those governments. France and Spain in particular.
Ireland won't be calling in the Israeli ambassador because they
left in a huff last year. They felt Ireland was
an anti Semitic country apparently, which is just ridiculous. So
(01:41):
they'll be called in, they'll be given a drissit dressing down.
But you just wonder what goes through someone's head to
fire assault rifles at European diplomats.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, totally, and to explain to me what's going on
with this Irish reper Why was he flying to his
bull of flag.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So they're from West Belfast. They are young Iras Republicans.
They're a group called Kneecap. They were nominated for all
sorts of film awards from BAFTAs. They were in the
running for Oscars last year. They are rappers. It's a
trio from West Belfast. Young guys in their twenties. Lim
o'hannah is one of the lead rappers and he goes
(02:20):
by the stage name Macorra, which is an Irish language phrase.
It means my friend. And what's happened is they've got
extremely popular. They're pushing the Irish language. They're calling for
Ireland to be united again for a thirty two county republic,
and their music is really streaming very well, so they're
making a lot of headlines. What has happened is they've
(02:41):
really upset the establishment here and of course they've upset
Israel because of their support for the Palestinian people and
the people of Gaza in particular. So people have gone
through the internet, they've gone through videos and there is
an allegation that one of them flew a Hezbola flag
at a gig in North London in November. Now Hesbala
(03:02):
is a banned organization in the UK. Support for them
is a political a criminal offense, I should say so.
A letter has been received by this rapper charging him
under counter terrorism legislation. He's due at Westminster Magistrates in June.
But I would say it's possibly the best publicity they
could have ahead of a busy summer of gigs. They're
(03:23):
even playing Glastonbury Festival.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Here, Jayce. Yeah, okay, that is good publicity.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Then hey, in the now, you're going on a break.
But are you actually just going on gigantic run?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yes, so wait for it. I'm very nervous. I'm heading
to South America for the first time in my forty
nine years on God's Earth. I'm heading to Peru. There
is a race in the Amazon starting next Sunday called
the Jungle Ultra two hundred and thirty kilometers. Me marusak,
sleeping bag and some food and a hammock. What could
(03:54):
possibly go wrong?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
How long does it take you to run? Two hundred
and thirty ks?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So it's five marath on in five days, roughly. You run,
you camp, you sleep, you eat, you get up and
go again five times. Some of the fittest people on
Earth are heading there, and I'll be joining them.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So tell me more about this. What are you carrying
your own food?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yes? So it's like dried so it looks like sawdust
and then you add hot water and it turns magically
into carbonara or spaghetti or.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Do you have to carry You don't have to carry
enough water for five days? Do you.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
No, there's water stops every ten kilometers, so I think
the key, Yeah, the key to this will be staying
hydrated using my brain. And you know, there's some people
who are going to compete and they are very very fit,
fast people. Good luck to them. I'm going for the experience.
I'm going to complete and if i can get round
and get a medal at the end, I'll be very
very happy. It's in a place called Manu National Park,
(04:55):
just on the border with Brazil, deep inside the Amazon.
And then yeah, I'm not great with spiders and insects either,
so never mind humidity and altitudes. So let's see. I'll
have some yarns for you when I see you in
a fortnight.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Wow, in the best of luck.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You are honestly a superhuman. Go and look after yourself
and stay stay as safe as possible. Into Brady, UK correspondent.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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