INDEPENDENT IRELAND’S PARTY leader Michael Collins has said he objects to legal action taken against Vicar Street by a party councillor to try and stop a gig by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.

The UK-based duo have sparked controversy over their chants of “Death to the IDF” while performing at Glastonbury Festival, and more recently had a concert in the Netherlands cancelled over comments on Charlie Kirk, with one member saying: “If you chat shit you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of shit.”

The duo announced a headline concert at Dublin’s Vicar Street on 26 November. 

Yesterday, Clondalkin-based councillor Linda de Courcy commenced legal proceedings against Vicar Street in an effort to stop the concert from occurring. 

De Courcy told Dublin District Court that she was taking the action on behalf of her party colleague, TD Ken O’Flynn, and would be objecting to Vicar Street’s dance and music license. 

She informed the licensing court’s Judge Máire Conneely that O’Flynn had already written to the Thomas Street venue but he had received no response.

Following the publication of the court report yesterday evening, O’Flynn issued a statement saying that although he had written to the venue, he had no part in the legal proceedings being taken by de Courcy.

“I have not initiated, nor am I party to, any court case in respect of this matter,” O’Flynn said.

Speaking to reporters today at Leinster House, O’Flynn said he did not agree with the rhetoric of Bob Vylan but did not deny their right to speak freely. He said his concerns lay mainly with whether the venue planned to have a contingency plan in place to ensure the safety of those in the area.

Party leader Michael Collins added that he only became aware of the legal bid yesterday. He said he categorically disagreed with de Courcy and it was not the stance of Independent Ireland.

“The bottom line is, she had an objection against the musician playing. I have no issue with that, but an objection against a license of a business is something I do object to,” he said.

“I’m fighting every day of the week for a business to survive inside there [Leinster House] and for that to be done, it’s not done in Independent Ireland. I will be speaking to Linda to make sure that she understands that, because I am not at all happy.”

In court yesterday, the matter was adjourned until 17 November.