Kneecap rapper Mo Chara’s terror charge dismissed on technical grounds

A terrorism offence charge against Liam Og Ó hAnnaidh, the Kneecap rapper who performs as Mo Chara, was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring at Woolwich Crown Court on a technicality related to the charging process. Goldspring ruled the proceedings were invalid and unlawful because the decision to charge was made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) before the Attorney General had formally approved it, disrupting the six-month window in which consent must be granted. The dismissal ends the case against Ó hAnnaidh, who had faced the terrorism charge over an alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a November concert in London.

The charge stemmed from an incident at a Kneecap gig at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in November 2024, where videos emerged of a band member reportedly shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” while a flag described as Hezbollah symbolism was shown. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying the flag in a way that could arouse reasonable suspicion that he supported a proscribed organisation. The venue was in north London, and the show drew attention from fans and critics alike as the group has been active on political-tinged tours.

The court heard that Scotland Yard sought a charging decision on May 20. The CPS instructed police to charge Ó hAnnaidh the following day, but prosecutors reportedly failed to obtain formal consent from the Attorney General before bringing a terrorism-related charge. Lawyers for Ó hAnnaidh argued at earlier hearings that the Attorney General’s permission was granted only after the six-month limit had elapsed, a point central to the defense’s argument that the charge was filed outside the statutory window. The judge’s ruling made clear that the procedural misstep invalidated the charge, as the prosecution did not secure the requisite DPP and AG consent within the statutory time frame.

In delivering his judgment, Goldspring stated that the proceedings were not instituted in the correct form and that the “necessary DPP and AG consent within the six-month statutory time limit” had not been obtained at the appropriate time. He described the charging decision as unlawful and declared that the court had no jurisdiction to try the case. The ruling was greeted with applause from supporters in the public gallery. Outside the courtroom, Ó hAnnaidh’s family stood with the rapper, and Irish translators assisted during the proceedings as needed.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the verdict, posting on X that all charges against Kneecap’s Mo Chara had been dropped and that the decision should be seen as part of a broader effort to challenge attempts to silence those who speak out on Gaza and Palestine. Kneecap themselves had used social media in the days ahead of the hearing, signaling that the day’s proceedings would be a focal point for supporters who view the case as connected to wider political debate at live performances.

The hearing had been scheduled to take place at Westminster Crown Court but was moved to Woolwich Crown Court at short notice after Westminster Magistrates’ Court closed because a burst water pipe left the building without water. The last-minute change added another layer of logistical complexity to a case that had already drawn attention from fans and political commentators alike.

As the judge delivered the verdict, attendees reflected on what the decision meant for future prosecutions involving political performance and the display of symbols at live events. While the court cleared Ó hAnnaidh of the terrorism charge on procedural grounds, legal observers noted that the ruling centers on process rather than on the substantive allegations about the flag or any statements made during the performance. The CPS was ordered to cover Ó hAnnaidh’s legal costs arising from the unlawful proceedings.

The case underscores the increasing overlap between culture, music and political discourse, a nexus that has become more visible across entertainment venues in the United Kingdom. Supporters say the outcome cautions authorities to adhere strictly to consent procedures in sensitive cases. Critics, however, have argued that the legal framework surrounding proscribed organizations and the display of symbols remains a challenging terrain for performers who seek to engage audiences on contentious issues. In the wake of the verdict, Mo Chara and Kneecap have not announced any immediate plans to resume touring in relation to this case, focusing instead on responding to the decision and coordinating with their legal team on next steps.