They shouted ‘Up Hamas’ on level, referred to as for Tory MPs to be killed and championed the IRA – but they are lionised via the BBC and got £1.6m of public cash… So why are Irish rappers Kneecap STILL set to play Glastonbury?

Three weeks in the past, Kneecap had been revelling within the acclaim of tens of hundreds of adoring fanatics at probably the most global’s most famed track gala’s. 

With one band member dressed in his trademark Irish tricolour balaclava, the West Belfast hip-hop trio entertained the group at Coachella – a extra glitzy US model of Glastonbury – in their very own inimitable taste.

Rapper Mo Chara informed the cheering target market: ‘If anybody was wondering, Margaret Thatcher’s nonetheless useless,’ ahead of main them in a celebratory singalong of ‘Maggie’s in a field’ to the track of Give It Up via KC and the Sunshine Band.

He adopted this rendition with a speech denouncing what he described as the ongoing ‘British occupation’ of Ireland and the ‘worse occupation’ in Palestine.

As the group went wild, he concluded with the Republican slogan that used to be often utilized by IRA terrorists: ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá’, that means ‘Our day will come’.

It capped a outstanding two years for Kneecap, who’ve reaped atypical rewards from what critics declare is an act in response to glorifying terrorism and stoking sectarianism.

The band has been accused of again and again the usage of IRA paraphernalia – together with selling themselves the usage of pictures of petrol bombs burning politicians – to make violent republicanism seem cool to a technology fortunate sufficient to be born after the horrific slaughter of the Troubles.

This ‘terrorist chic’ took the trio from being digital unknowns outdoor of Northern Ireland to international sensations who starred in successful movie in response to their lives.

The band has been accused of again and again the usage of IRA paraphernalia – together with selling themselves the usage of pictures of petrol bombs burning politicians – to make violent republicanism seem cool to a technology fortunate sufficient to be born after the horrific slaughter of the Troubles

This ‘terrorist chic’ took the trio from being digital unknowns outdoor of Northern Ireland to international sensations who starred in successful movie in response to their lives (Pictured with Gerry Adams)

The Mail has been investigating Kneecap since January 2024 and has found out a deeply annoying cache of social media posts and feedback via the band alluding to terror assaults as ‘resistance’, welcoming rising reinforce a few of the younger for the IRA and glorifying violence of their track.

Astonishingly, whilst this used to be happening, we additionally discovered the gang and its movie had been bankrolled with £1.6million of public cash and feted via the BBC. The irony is that it used to be their amped-up efficiency at Coachella which alerted the broader global to the brutal fact of Kneecap’s repellent attitudes.

In the process only a few days, the gang – named after the paramilitary punishment of taking pictures somebody within the knee – were dropped via their US sponsor and reserving agent, had a chain of high-profile gigs cancelled and been condemned via UK politicians from all events.

Most dramatically, counter-terrorism officials have introduced an investigation into movies allegedly appearing them inciting reinforce for terror teams right through gigs.

The fall from grace started when, livid that their crass political posturing right through their first set at Coachella have been lower from the are living movement of the efficiency, they carried out their set at the second one weekend of the pageant towards the backdrop of a slogan pointing out ‘F*** Israel, Free Palestine’ projected directly to the wall at the back of them.

Days later, pictures emerged from a Kneecap gig final 12 months by which one member seems to shout ‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah’, whilst draped within the latter terror team’s flag. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed organisations in the United Kingdom.

They face extra Scotland Yard scrutiny over pictures unearthed via the Mail from a gig in November 2023 which seems to turn one member of the gang announcing: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’

Facing an extraordinary backlash, Kneecap after all apologised to the bereaved family of murdered politicians Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, who had joined the refrain of condemnation.

The fall from grace started when, livid that their crass political posturing right through their first set at Coachella have been lower from the are living movement of the efficiency, they carried out their set at the second one weekend of the pageant towards the backdrop of a slogan pointing out ‘F*** Israel, Free Palestine’ projected directly to the wall at the back of them

They face more Scotland Yard scrutiny over footage unearthed by the Mail from a gig in November 2023 which appears to show one member of the group saying: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP’

The band also denied ever having supported Hamas or Hezbollah and said it condemned all attacks on civilians. In the same statement, however, Kneecap claimed that they were the victims of a ‘smear campaign’ orchestrated via the British ‘Establishment’.

They had been supported this week via dozens of track artists – together with Pulp, Paul Weller, the Pogues and Primal Scream, in addition to BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac – who signed an open letter issued via the gang’s document label, Heavenly Recordings, announcing there have been ‘a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately de-platform’ Kneecap.

‘As artists, we feel the need to recognise our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,’ they added.

For its phase, Kneecap insisted the band’s message ‘has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion and hope’.

Little proof of this purported means is located within the band’s historical past, alternatively. Kneecap had been shaped in 2017 via rappers Mo Chara, actual identify Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 26; Móglaí Bap, actual identify Naoise Ó Cairealláin, 30; and DJ Próvaí, actual identify JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who’s 34.

Their ages imply they had been all born across the time of the 1994 IRA ceasefire and 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ushered in a length of relative peace.

Previous generations had lived in the course of the Troubles, right through which 3,600 other folks had been killed, just about part of them via the IRA, together with rankings of kids.

Kneecap say they wrote their first tune following a broom with the police after being stuck graffitiing the phrase ‘cearta’, this means that ‘rights’ in Irish, on a bus prevent.

For its phase, Kneecap insisted the band’s message ‘has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion and hope’

Their ages imply they had been all born across the time of the 1994 IRA ceasefire and 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ushered in a length of relative peace

It brought about their debut observe C.E.A.R.T.A – an Irish-language rap most commonly berating police makes an attempt to prevent them getting excessive, which used to be playlisted via Irish broadcaster RTE however later pulled after listeners complained about its drug references.

The symbol used to advertise any other of the gang’s early songs, H.O.O.D, featured probably the most band participants retaining a hurling stick studded with nails subsequent to a policeman tied to a chair. The lyrics come with: ‘Do ya want it in your chest? / Or your knees or your head?’

In 2019, the gang led a chant of ‘Get the Brits out’ on the Empire Music Hall in Belfast, an afternoon after Prince William and Kate had visited the venue. Kneecap later claimed on Twitter, now X, that the mantra ‘was about Brexit’.

DJ Próvaí stated he started dressed in his balaclava right through performances to cover his id from the varsity the place he taught Irish. But his day task got here to an result in 2020 after his bosses had been alerted to a video of a gig the place he’d painted ‘Brits out’ on his buttocks.

In 2021, Kneecap retweeted a information document caution that rising numbers of youngsters had been expressing reinforce for the IRA on social media, with the remark ‘Finally some gd [good] news.’

The team promoted their Farewell To The Union excursion with a picture of then-prime minister Boris Johnson and previous Democratic Unionist Party chief Arlene Foster strapped to a rocket on best of a bonfire, as two band participants crouched on the backside retaining a petroleum bomb.

In 2022, the gang unveiled a mural of a burning police Land Rover above the Irish-language slogan ‘No welcome for the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary)’. The symbol surprised many within the province, the place greater than 300 participants of the RUC had been murdered right through the Troubles.

More lately, Kneecap have taken an similarly combative place at the battle within the Middle East. Every week after the Hamas terror assaults of October 7, 2023, by which over 1,200 other folks had been killed in Israel, the band posted an image of the Palestinian flag emblazoned with the slogan ‘Resistance is Not Terrorism’.

More lately, Kneecap have taken an similarly combative place at the battle within the Middle East

Every week after the Hamas terror assaults of October 7, 2023, by which over 1,200 other folks had been killed in Israel, the band posted an image of the Palestinian flag emblazoned with the slogan ‘Resistance is Not Terrorism’

When they met Jeremy Corbyn in London two months later, band member Mo Chara once more highlighted his unity with the Palestinian motive.

At the tip of the interview, the previous Labour chief informed them: ‘Thanks, guys, for what you do in inspiring so many people.’

The band have additionally loved reinforce from former Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams and, since 2019, were controlled via Daniel Lambert, a former Irish diplomat to the UN and ex-member of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ Conflict Resolution Unit, the place he labored with peacebuilding organisations.

Despite his background, Mr Lambert tweeted that Gaza used to be ‘striking for liberation’ and had a ‘right to armed resistance under international law’.

He has additionally shared a picture of the past due October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar along a citation from the Hamas chief: ‘Does the world expect us to be well-behaved victims while we are getting killed?’

A felony consultant for Mr Lambert denied the posts amounted to reward of Hamas.

While Kneecap loved some reinforce in Northern Ireland, what propelled them to prominence used to be an atypical mixture of public investment and fawning protection from the BBC.

As one lady in Belfast stated this week: ‘They’re simply 3 wee gobshites who wouldn’t have were given a lot past the Falls Road if individuals who will have to have recognized significantly better hadn’t rushed to lend a hand them.’

The band have loved reinforce from former Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams and, since 2019, were controlled via Daniel Lambert, a former Irish diplomat to the UN and ex-member of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ Conflict Resolution Unit, the place he labored with peacebuilding organisations

While Kneecap loved some reinforce in Northern Ireland, what propelled them to prominence used to be an atypical mixture of public investment and fawning protection from the BBC

Despite massive considerations concerning the team, £1.6 million of public cash helped fund an eponymous semi-autobiographical movie starring its participants.

The challenge won £810,000 from the National Lottery. The money – which is supposed for use for the ‘public good’ – used to be disbursed via the British Film Institute, which informed the Mail its investment ‘is not an endorsement of the politics depicted in the film or of political statements made by those involved.’

Another £805,000 got here from Northern Ireland Screen, together with a piece from the United Kingdom taxpayer-funded Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

When the Mail uncovered this, it provoked horror amongst individuals who have been injured or misplaced family members right through the Troubles. Former British soldier Noel Downey, 60, who misplaced a leg in a 1990 IRA automobile bomb, stated he used to be appalled public cash had funded a movie selling ‘sectarian bigots’.

The band used to be helped in its bid to spice up its profile in January 2024 when a BBC puff piece about them ran all day around the Radio 4 Today programme and nationwide TV announcements.

Hailing Kneecap as being on the ‘forefront of Irish hip-hop’, the document made just a passing connection with their controversy. In an interview, the reporter left unchallenged the band’s statement they had been simplest desirous about ‘making music, not stirring up tensions’. Instead of follow-up questions, she as a substitute requested them to show her some Irish.

The BBC stated it had ‘made sure the audience was aware of the sometimes controversial aspects’ of Kneecap’s paintings.

The following week Kneecap arrived on the Sundance Film Festival in Utah for his or her movie premiere on an armoured police Land Rover graffitied with the band’s identify. The movie received the pageant’s Audience Award and later a Bafta. Endorsements from track legends additionally rolled in; Sir Elton John has referred to as them ‘extraordinary’.

When they met Jeremy Corbyn in London two months later, band member Mo Chara once more highlighted his unity with the Palestinian motive

A couple of public figures did attempt to ward off. After the primary Mail exposé about Kneecap, Kemi Badenoch – then Business Secretary – blocked the gang from receiving a grant it have been allotted via the British Phonographic Industry.

But the band sued, claiming discrimination at the grounds of nationality and political opinion and, after the brand new Labour Government declined to struggle the case, Kneecap had been awarded £14,250 at Belfast High Court. The band revelled within the victory, boasting that they had taken probably the most ‘King’s cash’, when all that they had if truth be told taken used to be extra hard-working taxpayers’ money.

Ms Badenoch has referred to as for them to be prosecuted over the lately emerged pictures. This time, she has been joined via Sir Keir Starmer, who has branded the band’s feedback ‘completely unacceptable’. The Prime Minister additionally stated no additional public finances could be directed against them.

To make issues extra difficult for Kneecap, most of the team’s fanatics have accused them of being ‘sell-outs’ for apologising in any respect.

The fallout has noticed them cancelled from a number of German gala’s and from a gig on the Eden Project in Cornwall. Back in Belfast, the DUP has referred to as for the band to be axed from a live performance within the town, mentioning considerations over the ‘glorification of terrorism’ and ‘incitement to violence’.

But all isn’t misplaced for the gang, who’re nonetheless scheduled to seem at Glastonbury subsequent month. This is regardless of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and several other MPs calling for them to be dropped. Katie Amess, the daughter of slain MP for Southend West David Amess, stated it will be ‘very dangerous’ for them to accomplish.

If not anything else, it’s tough to look how the band’s statements of reinforce for terrorist teams and calls to kill MPs may are compatible with Glastonbury’s challenge to try against an ‘inclusive and accepting world’. 

But then, if Kneecap can insist its message is completely about ‘love, inclusion, and hope’, anything else is imaginable.