Irish hip hop group. Patella says he has launched legal action against Vince GasparroLiberal parliamentary secretary who posted a video on social media announcing the group's apparent ban on entry into Canada, which their lawyer said caused “substantial” harm.
Lawyer Darragh Mackin told Global News that Gasparro, who Mackin said was served with a notice of claim over the weekend, is facing a libel case in Ireland.
“Our clients have been subjected to serious and unfounded allegations in the form of a publicly available video posted on a personal social media account, which has caused significant reputational damage,” McKean said in a statement from Belfast human rights law firm Phoenix Law on Saturday.
“The statements made by Mr. Gasparro were completely inaccurate and defamatory without any reason or substantiation. … Patella, like every private citizen, has the right to justice and the protection of his good name and reputation. These proceedings were brought to protect those rights.”
The trial takes place a few days after government documents presented in the House of Commons said the Prime Minister's Office and the Canada Border Services Agency were not “involved” or “consulted” in Gasparro's statement — despite Gasparro saying in September that the decision was made “on the advice of our officials” and “on behalf of the Government of Canada.”
The government's stated reasons for denying or delaying travel permits for group members also appear to contradict Gasparro's public statement, in which he accused the group of “promoting political violence” and “glorifying terrorist organizations.”
The documents say only one group member's travel permit was revoked “for failure to disclose complete and accurate information on his application” but that the revocation “does not prevent him from applying again.”
“We said in September that you made comments about us that were completely untrue and deeply malicious. You did,” Nikap said in an interview. statement on social media on Friday. “It now appears that you also lied when you told the world you were acting “on behalf of the Government of Canada.” It was another lie. You weren't. Your own government has made this clear.
“Today we are filing legal action against you,” the statement continued, adding that the group “will tirelessly defend itself against the outrageous and unfounded allegations.”
Mackin said the group is demanding “immediate correction and clarification” of Gasparro's comments.
Gasparro's office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Announcement is pending
Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for crime, said in a video posted on X on September 19 that “on behalf of the Government of Canada, I am announcing that, on the advice of our officials, we have found the Kneecap group ineligible to enter our country.”
Video stays online.
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In a response presented last week in the House of Commons, NDP MP Jenny Kwan asked in a case management orderFederal officials said they were not involved, and it remains unclear what advice from officials Gasparro cited in his post.
“This is an unprecedented case of a minister, without consulting the prime minister or the relevant department, taking matters into his own hands through his own social media channel,” McKean said. “Clickbait tactics like these have no place in a modern democracy.”
In its written response to Kwan's request for documents, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said band member Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh's electronic travel authorization (eTA) was revoked due to inadmissibility in August – a month before Gasparro's application – and that he was notified of the decision.
It makes no mention of the since-dropped criminal charge against Óg Ó Hannaïdh in the UK, which accused him of raising a Hezbollah flag during a London concert last year, which Gasparro specifically cited as the reason for the apparent travel ban.
The department added that the eTA applications of two other Kneecap members, John James Ó Dochartaig and Naoís Ó Cairellán, are “currently under review” and that they were told in September “not to travel to Canada until further communication” from IRCC.
On Friday, Kneecap said it was “working to resolve the 'compliance issues' reported by IRCC,” confirming it had received notice from the department for the first time since September.
Phoenix Law said it is in “direct correspondence” with IRCC regarding each class member's case.
“We look forward to visiting Canada again in 2026 and playing sold-out shows across your country as we have done in the past,” the band said to their Canadian fans.
Kneecap were scheduled to play shows in Toronto and Vancouver in October before the apparent travel ban was announced.
Kwan demands answers from Immigration Minister Carney
Kwan, the NDP's immigration critic, wrote letters to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Immigration Minister Lena Diab on Friday demanding answers to questions she said were not addressed in the government's written response.
Carney's letter asks him to instruct Diab to clarify IRCC's statements on the status of Kneecap eTA applications, as well as the reasons for the cancellation of Og O Hannaidh's travel authorization, as outlined in Kwan's letter to the minister.
Kwan is also asking Carney to clarify “who in the Government of Canada advised or authorized MP Gasparo’s public statement,” confirm what steps the government will take to ensure immigration decisions are properly communicated, and “provide a final statement on the eligibility status of Kneecap members.”
“Canadians deserve an immigration system that is transparent, fair and free from political interference,” Carney said in the letter.
“Serious inconsistencies between agency statements and an elected official's public statements require urgent attention. Without clarity, the appearance of arbitrary or politicized decision-making will continue to erode public trust.”
Conservatives have previously called for a parliamentary inquiry. about Gasparro's actions and whether he exceeded his authority by making his statement.
Kneecap, which actively supports Palestinians and criticizes Israel's military campaign in Gaza, said it does not promote Hamas, Hezbollah or any other terrorist group and does not advocate violence against the Jewish people.
On Friday, the group said it intends to donate “every cent” of any financial penalties it may win in the lawsuit against Gasparo to “help thousands of child amputees in the Gaza Strip.”
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