Terrorism charges dropped against Kneecap singer who held Hezbollah flag at concert
Following the cancelation of its U.S. tour, the band plans to stream a concert in Brooklyn
Members of the band Kneecap, including singer Liam O’Hanna (C) leaving Woolwich Crown Court on September 26, 2025 in London, England. Photo by Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images
(JTA) — A British judge has dropped the terrorism charge against Mo Chara, one of three members of the Irish rap band Kneecap that inaugurated a wave of anti-Israel protests at music festivals.
Chara, the stage name of Liam O’Hanna, was charged with the offense in May, after video circulated showing him holding a Hezbollah flag at a November 2024 concert. The manner in which he held the flag, prosecutors said, would “arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hizballah.”
In the video, circulated by the group’s critics, O’Hanna appears to be chanting “Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah.” Kneecap later issued a statement denouncing the groups, which have attacked Israel, at the urging of the Irish prime minister.
A British judge ruled on Friday, O’Hanna’s latest court date, that prosecutors had not brought the charges within the six-month window required under the law. He did not rule on the substance of the prosecutors’ argument.
The dropped charge comes as Kneecap has had concerts canceled in at least three countries, with some citing the charge against O’Hanna as a reason. Canada barred the group from entering, and the group canceled a sold-out U.S. tour this fall amid concerns that its members would not receive visas to enter the United States.
The group vaulted into public view during the U.S. festival Coachella in April, when they projected the words “F–k Israel. Free Palestine” on stage. The display drew widespread condemnation and calls to have their visas revoked.
In lieu of the U.S. tour, the band has instead coordinated a livestream of a performance at the Kings Theatre, in Brooklyn on Oct. 10. The concert, which will be performed in an undisclosed location in Ireland, will also be broadcast online from 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
