Normal People author Sally Rooney risks committing a terror offence under UK law if she funds the banned group Palestine Action, Downing Street has said.
The award-winning Irish author had earlier said she will donate her earnings from her books and BBC adaptions to support the group, which was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK on 5 July.
More than 700 people have been arrested in relation to alleged support of the group since it was banned – including 522 during a protest in central London on 9 July.
Palestine Action was proscribed after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to “allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in South Gloucestershire”, the Met Police said.
Writing in the Irish Times over the weekend, Rooney said that if backing the group “makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it”.
The 34-year-old added that she will use the proceeds of her work and her public platform to continue her support for Palestine Action and “direct action against genocide in whatever way I can”.
Palestine Action was banned under terrorism legislation in the UK, but not under Irish law.
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Rooney currently lives in the west of Ireland.
The BBC has broadcast adaptations of Rooney’s novels Normal People and Conversations With Friends in recent years.
However, the corporation said that Rooney has never been a member of their staff, adding that what novelists say and do with money previously received is a matter for them.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities.”
It is understood the BBC said it is not currently working with Rooney on any upcoming projects.
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In Westminster, the prime minister’s official spokesman would not comment specifically on the author’s remarks, but said on Monday: “There is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation, which is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest in support of a cause.”
Asked what message Number 10 would give to people considering giving money to the group, the spokesman added: “Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, they will obviously implement the law within the law as you’d expect.”
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The spokesman said Palestine Action was proscribed “based on security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, following an assessment made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre”.
Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the ambassador of the state of Palestine in Ireland, said on Monday: “Sally Rooney is using her voice to call out international law and human rights violations in Palestine.
“I hope these calls result in practical actions that will stop the horrors we’re witnessing carried out by Israel in Palestine; to stop the genocide and forced displacement and end the Israeli occupation.”
