Kneecap hit out at First Minister John Swinney at Glasgow gig after being axed from TRNSMT

Irish rap trio Kneecap hit out at First Minister John Swinney during a gig in Glasgow after being cut from TRNSMT’s line-up.

The group were axed from the music festival amid an investigation by counter-terror police into rapper Mo Chara.

He is accused of terrorism offences related to a Hezbollah flag he allegedly held up on stage.

The group were then booked for a gig at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on Tuesday night, which sold out in just over a minute.

At the show Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam O hAnnaidh, asked the crowd: “What’s your first minister’s name?”

He then added: “They stopped us playing TRNSMT but they can’t stop us playing Glasgow.”

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said the band’s comments were “unacceptable” after a video at a 2023 gig appeared to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

The SNP Leader called for them to be axed in May, and their cancellation came after safety concerns raised by Police Scotland.

The Belfast group, who perform in Irish, have been an outspoken critic of the war in Gaza and said the prosecution, following an investigation by the Met Police, is linked to their views on Palestine.

Kneecap are still due to perform scheduled shows at 2000 Trees rock festival on July 10, Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on August 15 and Belfast Vital on August 29 – nine days after O hAnnaidh’s next court appearance.