Kneecap might be facing terrorism charges, but that didn’t stop them from finding the punchline in a courtroom full of tension.
As Mo Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) fronted Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18 over an alleged incident involving a Hezbollah flag at a London gig, the most surreal—and undeniably funniest—moment came not from the dock, but from the gallery.
According to Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert, the magistrate casually informed the court they couldn’t source an Irish translator. “If anyone knows of one…” he trailed off. Cue the entire gallery pointing directly at DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh), who just so happens to be a former Irish teacher—and had played the exact same scene in Kneecap, the band’s semi-fictional film.
The coincidence wasn’t lost on anyone. Próvaí himself had acted as Chara’s translator in the movie, standing in court and delivering lines like: “Furthermore and not withstanding the aforementioned, he sees no reason to prove he cannot speak English because he’s here asserting his right to speak Irish.” That quote made its way onto Twitter/X as a screenshot, blurring the line between satire and reality in peak Kneecap fashion.
It was a moment of comic relief in what’s otherwise a heavy situation. The band has denied supporting any terrorist organisations and insists the charges are politically motivated—“a carnival of distraction,” as they put it. They’ve vowed to fight the case, framing it as yet another chapter in a long tradition of Irish artists being targeted for political expression.
Outside court, the energy was pure resistance. A crowd of supporters (including Paul Weller) waved Palestinian and Irish flags, held up placards, and sang in solidarity. Chara was released on unconditional bail, with the next hearing set for August 20—this time, apparently, with an actual translator.
RELATED
