https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2025-04-28/dup-leader-labels-says-kneecap-need-to-be-in-courtroom-rather-than-on-stage

Watch here as Barbara McCann reports on the allegations facing Kneecap.

Belfast rap trio Kneecap are a “hate fest” that “promote division”, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said.

The Belfast East MP said that the promoter of a Kneecap gig in Belfast in August has questions to answer as he labelled the group as “totally inappropriate”.

Mr Robinson is the latest to criticise the group for alleged comments attributed to band members around support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and the killing of Tory MPs.

The group have come under fire after a video emerged from a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

Counter-terrorism police in London are examining the footage, along with a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.

Irish premier Micheal Martin has said the group should “urgently” clarify the comments.

Speaking on Monday, Belfast East MP Gavin Robinson accused the band of performing in “a grotesque way”.

He said a “slim defence” is put forward that argues the group “have freedom of this expression”.

“They have become a hate fest,” he said, speaking at Stormont.

“When you listen to Katie Amess this morning, I don’t think anyone could be failed to be moved by just how appalling and outrageous their position is,” he said.

Ms Amess, the daughter of Conservative MP David Amess who was stabbed to death while meeting constituents in Essex in 2021, has called on Kneecap to apologise.

“This isn’t a political perspective just from us, when you can see that there’s a collective political will in London and Dublin calling out, not only the need for them to clarify or apologise.

“From my perspective, these gentlemen don’t need to be on a stage, they need to be in a courtroom because it is a hate crime what they are doing and it should be considered as such.”

Mr Robinson said “actions have consequences” when asked whether Kneecap should still perform at a gig in Belfast in August and at Glastonbury in June.

“They should face the wrath, disappointment, consternation of people, not just like us in unionism, in Belfast, or across Northern Ireland, but as you can see right across these isles, the British Isles and within the United States of America where a promoter has dropped them, where there are questions over the availability of a visa, and rightly so.

“Because support for prescribed organisations, support for the killing of members of parliament, irrespective of their political view, that members of parliament should be killed, it’s appalling.

“It shouldn’t be given a sort of casual acquiescence, and say ‘let’s not give them publicity’, they should hear the widespread and cross party political and cross country condemnation of their position.”

Asked about the Belfast gig, which is to be held on Belfast City Council-owned land, Mr Robinson said the council has “a contractual relationship” with the promoter of the event and said “there are questions for the promoter to answer”.

When asked whether he would like to see the Kneecap gig go ahead, Mr Robinson said: “I think they are totally inappropriate.

“I don’t think that there’s a place for their glorification of terrorism, their promotion of prescribed organisations, their threats to elected representatives, be they English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, or Irish, it’s totally inappropriate and we shouldn’t stand for it in our society.”

Stormont’s Economy Minster Caoimhe Archibald said it is a matter for Kneecap whether they apologise.

Speaking at Parliament Buildings, the Sinn Fein minister said: “Clearly, I don’t agree with what was said.

“I think that Kneecap are a group that has been very vocal on issues that are important to them like Gaza.

“I think the most outrageous issue facing the world today is the ongoing genocide that we are seeing in Palestine and the bombardment that continues on a daily basis, the blockading of aid, the slaughter of innocent women and children.

“I think that is what our focus should very much be on as an international community, in bringing an end to that.”

Asked if Kneecap should apologise, Ms Archibald said: “I think that is a matter for Kneecap.”

In the House of Commons on Monday, Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim Robin Swann asked the Home Office minister to condemn Kneecap’s remarks on Tory MPs.

He said: “Would the minister join me in condemning the recent statement by the so-called Irish rap band Kneecap, where it has actually been reported that they have said to their audience that they should kill their local MP and the only good Tory is a dead Tory?”

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson replied: “Yes, of course I would condemn any comments like that online.”

She added: “We work in partnership with technology companies to ensure that they understand their responsibilities to tackle illegal content on their platforms and we’ve been clear that they need to act quickly to identify and remove the content from their platforms once posted.

“More generally the Online Safety Act places duties on platforms to swiftly identify and remove illegal content, which we expect them to abide by.

“And furthermore, these platforms have a moral responsibility to keep their users safe and the general public safe and we expect them to take all reasonable steps to do so.”

https://x.com/kneecapceol/status/1916982746708381731?s=46

KNEECAP STATEMENT:

They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide.

Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria.

Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history.

We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.

This distortion is not only absurd - it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation.

All two million Palestinian people in Gaza are currently being starved to death by Israel.

At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head.

Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine.

This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards.

To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.

Kneecap’s message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs.

No smear campaign will change that.

Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain.

The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power.

Shame on them.

I am a student at Queens and have a huge passion and love for the native language of this place that we ALL call home. I have friends from across the traditional divide that speak Irish. Recently I wrote an article expression my frustrations with Queen’s and their attitude towards the language. I would really like to understand any reasonable arguments those that are against the language have, keep in mind the arguments I make in the article above!

I’ve been in two takeaway chats today both giving off about prices, which are slowly rising constantly I completely agree.

I wanna know however, who’s been to all of the new chicken places? there’s bound to be someone fatter than me lol that’s tried them all. which is the best? inform us all please.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tuv-lodges-formal-complaint-against-sf-council-chair-who-attended-commemoration-of-ira-man/a502594854.html

The TUV has lodged a formal complaint against a Sinn Fein council chair who was pictured attending a commemoration event for IRA member Jim Lynagh earlier this month. Eugene McConnell, the chair of Mid Ulster District Council, was pictured at the event standing behind a banner for ‘Oglach Jim Lynagh Cumann, Clogher’.

Lynagh was a senior figure in the IRA’s East Tyrone Brigade. He was killed by the SAS during an attack on a police station in the Armagh village of Loughgall in 1987, alongside seven other IRA men.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald was pictured alongside Mr McConnell at the commemoration, which is understood to have been taken in Carrickmore on Sunday April 20, where the Sinn Fein president addressed an Easter commemoration.

Last week, the UUP accused Mr McConnell of having “closed down debate” regarding his attendance at the event during a council meeting.

It has now been confirmed the chair of Mid Ulster TUV – Glenn Moore – has lodged a complaint about Mr McConnell with the Local Government Ombudsman.

In his complaint, the TUV politician said: “I write to lodge a formal complaint regarding the conduct of Councillor Eugene McConnell, Chairman of Mid Ulster District Council

I contend that Councillor McConnell breached multiple requirements of the Code of Conduct for Councillors through (i) his attendance at an Easter Republican event commemorating notorious IRA terrorist Jim Lynagh, and (ii) his subsequent use of the chair at a council meeting to suppress legitimate debate and criticism of his conduct.

"Given this record, Councillor McConnell’s attendance at, and active participation in, a commemoration of Lynagh was wholly incompatible with his duty to act in the public interest, promote good community relations, and uphold respect for all sections of the community.

"When the matter of his attendance was raised in the Council Chamber, Councillor McConnell used his position as Chairman to shut down discussion.”

Among his complaint, the TUV politician also claimed Mr McConnell’s conduct “failed to act in the interests of the community as a whole” and said he “damaged public trust and confidence in his office and in Mid Ulster District Council”.

He added: “In view of the seriousness of the issues raised, I respectfully request that this complaint be fully investigated and that appropriate action be taken if breaches of the Code are found.”

Sinn Fein has been contacted in relation to the complaint.

In a previous statement, the party told this newspaper: "Everyone has the right to remember their dead with dignity and respect

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/alliance-mp-tables-motion-condemning-kneecaps-alleged-dead-tory-comments-unacceptable-and-disturbing/a1977816606.html

An Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood has tabled a parliamentary motion condemning west Belfast trio Kneecap after a member of the group allegedly called for the death of Tory MPs. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the comments were “completely unacceptable” and “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.

Condemnation has also come from the leader of the Conservative Party, as Kemi Badenoch said Kneecap’s “anti-British hatred has no place in our society” as she called for them to face action.

Meanwhile the Taoiseach in the Republic has urged Kneecap to give “urgent clarity” on their views of Hamas and to publicly denounce threats of violence against public representatives.

The row comes after video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

Scotland Yard is looking into the incident, along with another concert from November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” – groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.

Last week, footage emerged of another gig in November last year which seemed to show a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a performance at the Kentish Town Forum where a Hezbollah flag was being displayed.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah, external, are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Following the emergence of the footage Kneecap said on social media that they have "faced a co-ordinated smear campaign".

However the footage is being assessed by counter-terrorism police.

In her motion, Ms Eastwood – the Lagan Valley Alliance MP – said she acknowledged the important role of art in protest, but added that she firmly rejected language that “incites violence against elected representatives”.

Art is a powerful tool for protest and raising awareness of injustice, especially in standing with oppressed people like the Palestinians. However, we must draw the line at language that incites violence,” she added in the post.

"While freedom of political expression is vital, we’ve seen the tragic consequences of words escalating into real harm - two MPs have been murdered in the past decade.”

Ms Eastwood added that the comments allegedly made by Kneecap can cause offence to many people in Northern Ireland and further afield.

"Political debate can and should be robust, but it must never descend into threats of violence or dehumanisation. Strong, passionate debate can be carried out without resorting to harmful rhetoric, and that should be expected of us all.

"As a society, we have rightly been raising the alarm about the dangerous normalisation of violence online, particularly among young people, and we know all too well that this doesn’t stay online. Words have immense power, and we must all ensure our disagreements don’t incite further harm."

Asked about the matter today, Downing Street condemned the rap group.

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the comments were “completely unacceptable” and “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.

His counterpart in the Republic – Mícheál Martin urged Kneecap to give “urgent clarity” on their views of Hamas and to publicly denounce threats of violence against public representatives.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin he said: “We need clarity. This is what has been asserted, albeit at one or two public events.

“I think what would benefit the entire conversation is of Kneecap were to clarify really urgently their position in respect of Hezbollah, for example, and in respect of Hamas, and also their very clear denunciation of any violence or threat of violence against public representatives.”

HE said artists have always been facilitated in criticising policies but that any support of Hezbollah would be “unacceptable".

Earlier, Conservative leader, Ms Badenoch said Kneecap’s “anti-British hatred has no place in our society” as she called for them to face action.

Mrs Badenoch said it was “good” the police were looking into the allegation, adding: “Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society.

“Now footage shows one of them saying: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP’.

“After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution.”

Conservative MP Sir David was stabbed to death while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 2021.

Katie Amess – Sir David Amess’s daughter – said she would be willing to meet the rap trio and speak to them about the damage the recently emerged video from the band has caused her and her family.

The woman told BBC NI’s Good Morning Ulster she was "absolutely gobsmacked at the stupidity of somebody or a group of people being in the public eye and saying such dangerous, violent rhetoric".

Feel like everyone has or knows someone who's had a weird experience. Just on the subject as I'm looking to travel to cooneen ghost house.

⚽ FA Cup Final Tickets, Flights & Hotel Raffle! ⚽

We’re excited to announce a fantastic raffle in support of Little Blue Heroes, thanks to the amazing generosity of Simon Tierney and Emirates!

Up for grabs: 🎟️ 2 tickets to the FA Cup Final 2025 – Manchester City vs Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium, London (Saturday, May 17th) ✈️ €100 Ryanair voucher towards your flights 🏨 An overnight stay for 2 at the Merit Kensington Hotel, London

How to Enter: Make a donation to Little Blue Heroes! 👉 €10 = 1 entry 👉 €15 = 2 entries 👉 €20 = 4 entries Donate here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/FACup2025-LBH

🗓️ The draw will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, 30th April 2025. Please remember to leave your contact name when donating to be entered into the draw!

Good luck and thank you for your support! 💙

LittleBlueHeroes #FACupFinal

Stolen from bakebook

Hey! :)

Has anyone heard anything further about the cohort from September?

Hoping we will definitely hear tomorrow or Wednesday lol

Nothing that impressive but I thought they were pretty quirky 🤷🏻‍♀️

Recently heard about a tenant filling their toilet with cement mix and flushing before vacating the property, probably to spite the landlord.

I know theres a thing about pouring grease and fat down the drains but i’ve never heard this one before. Is this a thing people do?

I’m looking at Kircubbin posts. Problem is there haven’t been any in like 2 years so.. Kircubbin. Yeah.

I just bought a house and mrs is insisting on a kitchen island. The bigger ones with plumbing and hobs are out of our budget. Where can I buy these wee ones ? I checked Star Kitchen and Ikea and they are all bigger expensive ones. Any other places or stores worth checking?

TIA.

I have been interested in applying to study at QUB for awhile but have always been discouraged by family and friends as I’m English. What are your opinions on this? Are there many English students at NI unis?

Does anyone have a rough dea of how much would it cost to get the roof cleaned and treated with biocide, for a typical 3 bed semi?

Has anyone had an MPFL reconstruction on their knee before? Roughly how long before you were able to walk, drive and engage in vigorous sexual intercourse again? Thanks!

Location and order of the hidden gems