Kneecap rapper won't be charged after saying 'kill your local MP' in viral video

A member of Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap will not be prosecuted after he was filmed shouting "the only good Tory is a dead Tory" during a London gig last year. The Metropolitan Police says the decision comes after a "thorough investigation" into the incident, but ultimately concluded that any potential offences were "beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution."

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, had been filmed during the November 2023 performance telling fans to "kill your local MP" and making inflammatory remarks about Conservative politicians. The footage surfaced publicly in April, prompting a review by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Met said: "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."

They added that no further action would be taken based on the current evidence.

Ó hAnnaidh is still being investigated in a separate case involving alleged support for a proscribed terrorist organisation. He faces a charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a separate event in November 2023.

The news comes just days after Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan sparked controversy at Glastonbury Festival for politically charged performances.

Vylan's chant of "death to the IDF" was broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, prompting backlash from politicians including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who called the remarks "appalling hate speech."

The backlash against Kneecap's previous comments was amplified by Katie Amess, daughter of the late Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was murdered in a terror attack in 2021.

Speaking after the footage re-emerged, she called the rapper's remarks "extremely dangerous" and warned of the potential influence on unstable individuals.

In response, Kneecap issued a statement apologising directly to the Amess and Cox families. The group said their comments were "deliberately taken out of context" and insisted they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah."

They also stated they "reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever."

Despite the apology, the group has continued to generate debate with politically provocative performances.

At past concerts, the trio has led chants mocking former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and calling for the removal of British influence from Northern Ireland.

The controversy has also reportedly caught the attention of US authorities, with reports suggesting that the band's visas may be under review ahead of their planned American tour.