KNEECAP CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED

Last month (May 2025), it was reported that a video taken at a Kneecap concert back in 2023 was under investigation by counter-terrorism police. It was claimed that the video in question contained footage that one of the West Belfast trio allegedly said to the crowd: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

It was one of two videos being assessed by counter-terrorism police – the other video allegedly sees the group’s Mo Chara shouting, “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, while also displaying a Hezbollah flag onstage, in support of Palestine in the ongoing Gaza-Palestine genocide.

Mo Chara was summoned to appear at the Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, when he appeared merely to confirm his identity and where he was granted unconditional bail for the alleged Hezbollah-related charge. He is on bail until he is set to appear in Court again in August.

Now, in a statement to the Irish Times, a rep for the Metropolitan Police have said of the first related alleged offence that: “A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation. However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution. Relevant indictable offences were considered by the investigation team and, based on all of the current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time.“

The Met Police did however acknowledge the concerns of some MP’s and told the Irish Times that it understood the “impact this decision may have” on MPs by stating “The safety and security of MPs is something that is taken extremely seriously across the whole of policing. MPs who may be concerned about their safety can contact their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.”

This weekend Kneecap played their planned set at Glastonbury 2025 despite calls from many high profile politicians and others to axe the band from the line-up. During their performamce, the band took the opportunity to hit out at Keir Starmer, who was one of the main leaders calling for them to be removed from the festival citing that it would “not be appropriate”.

The band hit back at this by saying “The Prime Minister of your country said he didn’t want us to play, so fuck Keir Starmer.”

During their set Mo Chara declared to fans “Glastonbury, I’m a free man,” following up teasingly with “Has anyone been watching the news?” He then led the massive crowd who has flocked to see the trio in a chant of “Free Mo Chara, free, free Mo Chara”.

With his band mate Móglaí Bap commenting “Mo Chara was in court this month, was anyone there? Mo Chara’s in court for a trumped up terrorism charge. It’s not the first time there was a miscarriage of justice for an Irish person in the British justice system”.

As for the second Hezbollah-related terror charge against Kneecap, the trio have consistently and vehemently denied any public support for either Hamas or Hezbollah, and said that they “do not incite or condone violence.” They have further argued that the footage taken at the UK shows which is being used in legal proceedings against them has been taken out of context, and described the legal action as a “carnival of distraction” against the real issues and atrocities.

Móglaí Bap concluded the band’s what will no doubt be a legendary set in musical history with: “We’ve said it before, the story isn’t about us. It’s about the genocide happening in Palestine. Free, free Palestine.”