Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap have accused the British government of attempting to "silence" them, after funding awarded to the group under the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) was blocked at the 11th hour.
Having received considerable critical acclaim for their upcoming semi-fictional biopic, Kneecap, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last month, and features celebrated Irish actor Michael Fassbender, the trio had applied for the grant, funded by the UK's Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, with support from the British Phonographic Industry, in order to offset the costs involved in extending their touring plans in the US.
