Kneecap break silence for Big Issue UK exclusive: “I can’t be completely responsible all the time”

Thursday 19 March – Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara, has given his first print interview since the terror charges brought against him were thrown out.

Interviewed alongside bandmate Naoise Ó Cairealláin, known as Móglaí Bap, Chara has reflected on what Kneecap describes as being “right in the eye of the storm” in a major exclusive with next week’s Big Issue, out Monday (23 March).

Mo Chara was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror group Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town in November 2024. The offence later fell outside of the timeframe in which criminal proceedings can be brought, with Westminster Magistrates Court dismissing the charges in September 2025.

On 11 March, the High Court dismissed an appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service against the decision, meaning Ó hAnnaidh will not face a new terror trial. In the new Big Issue interview, he’s asked whether he regrets picking up the flag.

“Ah see, it’s one of those things,” he tells the Big Issue. “I don’t think my lawyer would be too happy me mentioning anything about it.

“When you’re playing a gig it’s impossible to be perfectly conscious all the time. I don’t remember all – and that’s not just from drink, that’s pure adrenaline. I can’t be completely responsible all the time.”

Mo Chara firmly rejects criticism that Kneecap’s stance on Gaza and Israel makes them antisemitic. “It’s a real issue. It’s terrible,” he tells the Big Issue. “But when you start labelling bands and people who speak out against Israel as antisemitic, what you do is water that term down. We are not antisemitic.”

“Look, we’re from the north of Ireland. We know about f*cking religious conflicts, people using religion as a way to murder, maim and all this stuff,” adds Móglaí Bap.

“We won’t discriminate against anyone for their religion. But there are illegal settlements that are deemed illegal by international human rights bodies, who are educated in this area who say this. There’s an ICJ arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister. Internment is there with people in jail for years. But it’s nothing to do with religion. We are against any discrimination in any form.”

Kneecap’s first major print interview since Mo Chara’s terrorism charges were dropped will be published in full in Monday’s Big Issue, on sale from street vendors and online via bigissue.com.

Marking the occasion, graffiti artist 10Foot has created new art which will feature on the cover of next week’s Big Issue. He’s also contributed an exclusive print, which will come free with each magazine sold.

A year ago, the Big Issue handed editorial control to 10Foot for a special edition of the street magazine, allowing it to be taken over from cover to cover for the first time in its 34-year history. He invited artists including Kneecap and Banksy to make exclusive, unprecedented contributions to the issue.