The members of the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap will not be prosecuted for statements about killing British MPs. The police have stopped the investigation because the alleged offenses fall outside the legal time limit for prosecution.
Kneecap came under fire this year after a video of a concert in November 2023 surfaced. In it, a member of the group shouted, among other things, “Murder your local MP.”
According to the police, a “thorough investigation” has been completed into the incident. “Given the time that has elapsed between the events in the video and the moment the video was brought to the attention of the police, possible minor offenses fell outside the legal time limit for prosecution,” a spokesperson told The Irish Times. “It has therefore been decided to take no further action.”
Kneecap broke through internationally in 2024 with the album Fine Art. The group members Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí also released the feature film Kneecap that same year, in which the trio plays themselves.
Group member charged with terrorism
The group has also been in the news in recent months for its pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli views. Band member Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with terrorism in London. The rapper allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag during a concert in December. This case is still ongoing.
Kneecap performed at the English festival Glastonbury last weekend, where they showed sympathy for a recently banned pro-Palestinian action group. Earlier that day, the BBC decided not to broadcast the Irish trio’s show live.
On November 12, Kneecap will give a concert in AFAS Live in Amsterdam.