Irish rap trio Kneecap have won their discrimination case following former business secretary Kemi Badenoch’s decision to deny them a £14,250 grant after the UK government admitted it was ” illegal “.

The outspoken group had taken legal action, claiming the decision to deny the grant discriminated against them based on their nationality and political views.

At a brief hearing at the High Court in Belfast on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield said he was pleased the two sides had reached an agreement.

Reading from a joint statement on file, Kneecap’s lawyer Ronan Lavery KC said: “It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take relevant factors into account. »

It was agreed that the sum of £14,250 would be paid by the government to the group.

West Belfast hip-hop artists had applied for a grant to support UK-recorded artists in global markets.

Their application for the Music Export Growth Scheme had been approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

However, the grant scheme is overseen by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and Ms Badenoch, then Secretary of State for UK Business, who is now The now leader of the Conservative Party decided to refuse the funding in February. .

At the time, a government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but it was “hardly surprising” that it did not want to distribute British taxpayers’ money to those who oppose the United Kingdom.

Kneecap, formed in 2017 by three friends who perform under the stage names Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai, openly stirs up controversy with its provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group had said its views in favor of Irish unity, and in particular a provocative poster for its 2019 “Farewell to the Union” tour, had angered the Conservative Party.

Band member DJ Provai arrived at court on Friday in an old Land Rover, designed to look like a police vehicle, which flew the Irish and Palestinian tricolors and played loud music.

He wore his usual Irish tricolor balaclava, which he removed to enter the courthouse.

After reading the agreement, barrister Mr Lavery said he was sorry he could not read it in Irish, to which Judge Scoffield replied: “Go raibh maith agat”, meaning ” thank you” in Irish.

The group said it would donate the grant to two youth organizations in Belfast – one from a nationalist area and the other from a unionist area.

Speaking outside court afterwards, DJ Provai said: “For us this action never cost around £14,250; it could have been 50p.

“The motivation was equality.

“It was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and the way we express ourselves.”

He added: “Former Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch and her department acted illegally; it is now a fact.

“They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and that the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art, and deserve the freedom to express our culture.

“They broke their own laws by trying to silence Kneecap. »

He added: “They tried to silence us and they failed. »

When asked what his message was for Ms Badenoch, DJ Provai replied: “Good effort Kemi, hard lines in the elections. Onwards and upwards. »

The group’s lawyer, Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, said the illegality of the government’s February decision was as “clear as the nose on the face.”

He added: “A court has exonerated our clients and declared this decision illegal in every sense of the word.

“Today is not only a victory for Kneecap but a victory for the arts, for culture, for freedom of expression.

“Kneecap continues to lead by example by practicing what it preaches.”

DJ Provai posed for photos outside the court after the short hearing before returning to the Land Rover, where a small crowd had gathered, and was driven away.

A statement from the Department of Business and Trade said: “This Government’s priority is to try to reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further spending, so we will not continue to challenge Kneecap’s challenge because we do not believe this is in the public interest.

“The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and we are committed to helping artists continue to thrive and enter new markets, including through our MEGS program – which has helped around 400 artists make tours around the world. »