KNEECAP given go-ahead for Judicial Review of UK funding decision

Irish language rap group KNEECAP, have been granted permission Northern Ireland's High Court for a judicial review of a UK government decision to revoke a public grant.

The controversial rap trio were awarded a £15,000 grant under the Music Export Growth scheme in the UK (MEGS), which was subsequently withdrawn by UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch.

The rappers’ application was said to have been shortlisted and approved by a British Phonographic Industry (BPI) panel, who later expressed disappointment over the blocking of the grant.

A spokesperson for Ms Badenoch said at the time that the government did not want to fund “people that oppose the United Kingdom itself”.

Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, representing Kneecap, said the decision represented an attack on identity, freedom of expression and the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement.

The case will proceed to a full hearing on November 14 2024.

Sharing the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, the band said: "We've been granted permission to challenge the Secretary of State's decision"

Continuing the post read: "That means we have cleared the first legal hurdle and the Judge has ruled that the case is arguable with a reasonable prospect of success".

We’ve been granted permission to challenge the Secretary of States decision. 🔥

That means we have cleared the first legal hurdle and the Judge has ruled that the case is arguable with a reasonable prospect of success. 🇮🇪

The Secretary of State must now file evidence justifying… pic.twitter.com/G4FhJzzgUz

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 20, 2024

The hearing which will take place in November, will have the group give evidence after they complete a series of gigs in the United States.

Outside court, band member DJ Provaí told the press that the legal action was not about the money.

“Fifteen grand wouldn’t pay for the bar tab in America,” he said.

“This is an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement and an attack on us and our way of expressing ourselves.”