Kneecap's Mo Chara faces terror charge over a flag, but shouldn't half of NI be in the dock based on that logic?

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is accused of a terrorism offence: displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.
There were surreal scenes this week outside Westminster Magistrates' Court when Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh — aka Mo Chara of the Irish language rap group Kneecap — arrived together with his two band mates, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.
An excited crowd waved flags, variously proclaiming 'Free Speech', 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara'. Delighted cheers went up when a van drove past displaying the slogan 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara'. There were plenty of keffiyeh scarves in evidence, as well as the odd leprechaun hat and what I think was an inflatable shamrock.

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Wales Online

30 minutes ago

• Wales Online

Jac Morgan has just been left lost for words after receiving special surprise from Lions

Jac Morgan has just been left lost for words after receiving special surprise from Lions Welshman Jac Morgan is set to start for the Lions against Argentina in Dublin tonight Wales and Lions star Jac Morgan watching the messages from his family (Image: British & Irish Lions ) Jac Morgan faces one of the biggest nights of his burgeoning career this evening but he'll do so in the knowledge that he has some special people behind him. The Wales skipper has been named in Andy Farrrell's British & Irish Lions XV to face Argentina in Dublin tonight in the curtain-raiser for the tour Down Under this summer. ‌ Morgan is just one of two Welshmen in Farrell's squad - Tomos Williams has been selected among the replacements in the Irish capital - and will be representing not only his country but his loved ones and community too. ‌ Ahead of his first-ever appearance for the Lions, Morgan has been sent a number of messages from his family, with one or two famous faces sprinkled in as well. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Former Lions skipper Sam Warburton and world rugby legend Richie McCaw both sent the Ospreys man their best wishes, but it is perhaps the messages from his grandparents and parents that prompt a lump in the throat after the Lions media team surprised him with a video compilation. Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below "Good luck for the next few weeks, I'm so, so proud of you, and I can't wait to see you soon," his girlfriend says. "Tough saying ta-ra," Morgan responds. "When you are going away for a long time, but to be able to have them there, to be able to share it with them because, you know, everything that my parents especially did when I was a youngster was take me to rugby and stuff. So being able to share it with them and having them out there to support will be fantastic." His grandparents then come on screen, with his grandmother, speaking in Welsh, saying: "I just want to let you know, just enjoy yourself," with his grandfather adding "and good luck, you've got a massive opportunity here because you've played well enough to be there, so prove that you are special." ‌ "And enjoy each minute with your new friends. Don't forget us now. Just enjoy, love," he gran ends with, before his grandfather adds: "And I tell you what, everyone in Brynamman wants you to do well." Morgan's parents then deliver their messages to their son, with his mum beginning: "Hiya Jac! Good luck to you on the beginning of your Lions tour, it's a massive honour and we're so proud of you." "All right Jac?" his father begins. "There's an outstanding opportunity in front of you, so get your head down, work hard and more than anything enjoy it. Do you best." ‌ His sister adds: "Good luck, all the best, I'll see you out there!" "It is nice, it's pretty special to be able to get the messages," Morgan says after watching the videos from his nearest and dearest. "It's great. Lost for words, in a way." "Jac, good morning," Warburton begins in the next segment. "Congratulations, I'm sure you were pretty nervous on the Lions announcement day but I was pretty certain you were going to get selected. Ever since Rugby World Cup 2023 really, I think you really showed the world that you are one of Wales' world-class players. Article continues below "Enjoy the series, show everyone what you're about and I'm sure you'll fly the flag for Wales and do Britain and Ireland really proud. Can't wait to see you go, mate, hell of a player, can't wait to watch you go. Good luck, Jac." Ending with a message from the one of the game's greatest-ever players, McCaw says: "Hi Jac, just want to say congratulations on being selected in the Lions. Amazing achievement and I just want to wish you all the best for your trip to Australia. Get stuck into the Aussies. Cheers, mate." "Pretty special to have messages from them as well," Morgan replies having watched two legends of the game address him. "You know, when I was a youngster they were probably two of the best opensides in the world. Watch them play and everything they've achieved in their careers and to be able to get that message from them is great."

The Sun

37 minutes ago

• The Sun

Love Island fans brand star ‘the real victim' saying villa is ‘making him look like a complete mug'

LOVE Island fans have branded Shea Mannings the "real victim" after spotting a series of moments where they have "mugged him off". The scaffolder, 25, is currently coupled up with Yasmin Pettet, 24, but she's had her head turned by the other lads in the villa. 4 4 4 Earlier this week, she enjoyed a snog with Harry and Dejon in a game of beer pong and yesterday she sneaked away to the Hideaway with Harry for another snog. Yesterday, Shea hit out at the lads for "sniggering" as he took Yasmin to the fire pit for a chat. After chatting to her about her snog with Harry and Dejon in the game, Shea then headed over to the boys to confront them. Shea told Dejon, Harry, Conor and Tommy: "I've been made to look like a bit of a mug there and as I'm walking over I can hear laughing and stuff." Dejon admitted he was the one who laughed. Harry admitted: "It wasn't at you, it wasn't that we were laughing at your chat." But Shea fired back: "But you've got to see it from my point of view. I'm walking over and I can hear that." Now fans are saying that Shea is being unfairly alienated from the other boys in the group. This eagle-eyed viewer took to reddit with their theory, saying: "I've been picking up on a pattern with Shea and noticing it more but today's episode really solidified it for me some of the Islanders behaviour towards him has just been off. "In yesterday's episode, Meg tried to embarrass Yas by bringing up how she kissed other guys besides her couple (Shea), but it backfired. "It ended up embarrassing Shea way more and just made him look like a complete mug in front of everyone. Yas clearly didn't care, but you could tell Shea felt uncomfortable and humiliated which I felt bad for him. "Then in the episode before that, Tommy was all giddy about Harry and Dejon sneaking around kissing who they wanted, and he didn't call them out at all. "But somehow Shea gets singled out even though he apologised. "Ever since Shea came into the villa, it felt like Tommy was threatened by him. Like when he was on the terrace saying he's more attractive than the bombshells and pointing out how tall he is. Then later goes and calls him a 'lanky lamppost' when confronting him? "Today's episode was another one. Meg once again taking the spokesperson role, stirring the pot by asking Shea what he thinks of Yas's comment like he's her guardian or something? "And in the background, Megan (Irish) and Helena making snarky comments. Megan said, 'but she's happy in her couple', and I get that those three don't like Yas (they're giving bully and insecure vibes) but constantly dragging Shea into it like he's responsible for her actions is just so unnecessary and actually really embarrassing." They added: "And also… the whole Dejon sniggering thing. I get why Shea was annoyed he was already clearly embarrassed and annoyed, and that laugh just added to it. Even though Dejon said it wasn't about that, the timing felt a bit snarky." Another fan agreed and said: "Felt bad for him last night. Clearly not the right type of person for this show and does come across that everyone in the villa sort of bullies him or doesn't take him serious. "Was glad to see him call out Dejon last night for his immature/disrespectful little noise or whatever it was." While this viewer echoed: "100 per cent I've been noticing that and feeling sad on his behalf that he's being picked on." HIDEAWAY ANTICS The next day, Harry and Yasmin enjoyed a cosy chat in the private area and kissed THREE times. But despite their snog, neither Harry nor Yasmin admitted to it when they returned from the Hideaway. That was until their actions were exposed in a brutal firepit game on Thursday night. Helena was left in shock as Yasmin revealed they'd kissed not once, but three times. And while Harry smirked, the stunning air hostess was backed by co-star Megan. 'You're a liar,' Megan shouted across the firepit to Harry, adding: 'You owe it to Helena to be f****** honest, you p****. 'She's sat there watching you go into the Hideaway, you kissed her three times and then come out and go 'Oh no, I didn't do anything.'' Meg finished by telling Harry: 'Grow a pair of b******* mate, honestly, grow the f*** up.' Love Island 2025 full lineup Harry Cooksley: A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. Shakira Khan: A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. Megan Moore: A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. Alima Gagigo: International business graduate with brains and ambition. Tommy Bradley: A gym enthusiast with a big heart. Helena Ford: A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. Ben Holbrough: A model ready to make waves. Megan Clarke: An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. Dejon Noel-Williams: A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. Aaron Buckett: A towering 6'5' personal trainer. Conor Phillips: A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. Antonia Laites: Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. Yasmin Pettet: The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. Malisha Jordan: A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Emily Moran: Bombshell Welsh brunette from the same town as Love Island 2024 alumni Nicole Samuel. Shea Mannings: Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. Remell Mullins: Boasts over 18million likes and 500k followers on TikTok thanks to his sizzling body transformation videos. Harrison Solomon: Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Departures: Kyle Ashman: Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. Sophie Lee: A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. Blu Chegini: A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. 4

The National

3 hours ago

• The National

Attempted murder investigation launched after man attacked in Ayr

Emergency services attended the 39-year-old, who was then taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition. READ MORE: UK's 'Union flag plane damaged' in pro-Palestine RAF break-in Police are appealing for information to help trace a man seen in the area around the time of the incident. He is described as white, mid-30s, around 5ft 11in tall, with a tattoo on his neck, and was seen in the area at the time of the incident. Detective inspector Jamie Carruth said: 'I'm aware there is information known locally in relation to the person involved in this attack on a man in broad daylight. I'd appeal to anyone who knows something, no matter how significant they think it may be, to come forward.