People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said “News yesterday that British police have charged Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh with a terrorism offence is both a farcical and a dangerous escalation of the criminalisation of the Palestine Solidarity movement”.
“No one should be in any doubt that this is another turning of the screw of repression on those who are most vocal in their criticism of Israel’s genocide, and of the support and arms that the British and other Western Government’s give to Israel, particularly those such as Kneecap who have an important platform. ”.
“It’s no coincidence that it's the British state, one of Israel’s most important allies and arms dealers, that has taken this alarming step to try and shut down dissent. Starmer’s Labour Government, and the Tory Government that preceded it, are utterly complicit in the genocide in Gaza. It's Keir Starmer who should be in the dock”.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said “People Before Profit stand with Liam and Kneecap and we urge people in Britain and in Ireland to show huge solidarity with them and to demand the dropping of these ludicrous charges”.
“I will seek an opportunity to raise this matter in the Dáil as soon as possible to demand that the Irish Government tell the British Government in no uncertain terms that this criminalisation of an Irish citizen for supporting the people of Palestine is completely unacceptable and that the charges must be dropped”.