Kneecap rapper walks free as court junks terror case due to technicality

International

APPLAUSE rang out in a London courtroom as a terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was struck down, with a judge ruling the prosecution had been brought out of time.

The 27-year-old performer, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a November 2024 concert at London’s O2 Forum in Kentish Town.

Prosecutors charged him in May this year, but Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court the case was “null” and “unlawful”, a report by BBC said.

The defence argued the case fell outside the six-month statutory limit for prosecution. In his judgment, Chief Magistrate Goldspring said consent from both the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was not secured until 22 May—one day after Ó hAnnaidh had already been charged. That timeline, he noted, placed the alleged offence “six months and one day” beyond the permitted window. He concluded the court had “no jurisdiction to try the charge.”

The ruling prompted applause inside the courtroom. Defence lawyer Jude Bunting KC described the proceedings as not only flawed but unjustified.

“This entire process was never about me. It was never about any threat to the public, it was never about terrorism – a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress, Ó hAnnaidh said in a BBC report.

He added that the case was always about Gaza and about silencing those who dared to speak up, insisting the attempt had failed. His parents, who embraced him as he left, said they were delighted the ordeal was over.

Bandmate Móglaí Bap also told the BBC they were simply relieved the matter had ended and wanted to focus again on talking about Palestine rather than defending the band.

Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert celebrated the dismissal on social media, declaring, “We have won. Liam Óg is a free man.” He stressed that the group had never faced convictions in any country and argued that what he called political policing had failed.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the outcome, describing the charges as an attempt to silence those speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it is reviewing the court’s decision carefully and noted that an appeal remains possible. The Metropolitan Police said they would work with the CPS to understand the implications of the ruling and how it might affect the handling of similar cases in future.

Formed in 2017, Kneecap is a Belfast-based rap trio who perform primarily in Irish and are known for politically charged lyrics and provocative imagery. The group consists of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí.(MyTVCebu)