Terrorism charges against the Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, have been definitively dismissed by the chief magistrate due to a significant technical error in the way the charge was brought. The 27-year-old Belfast musician had been accused of a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and chanting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November 2023. This outcome has ignited both celebration among his supporters and sharp criticism from others.

At Woolwich Crown Court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sided with Ó hAnnaidh’s defence team, led by Brenda Campbell KC. The defence successfully argued that a legal mistake had occurred: the Attorney General, Richard Hermer, had not granted the necessary permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him of the terror charge on May 21. Goldspring ruled that the charge against Ó hAnnaidh was “unlawful” and “null,” explaining that the proceedings “were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP [director of public prosecutions] and AG [attorney general] consent within the six-month statutory time limit set by section 127.” He emphasized that consent was required at or before the issue of the requisition, and consequently, the court lacked jurisdiction to try the charge. The prosecution’s argument, presented by Michael Bisgrove, that permission was not needed until the defendant’s first court appearance, was dismissed by the chief magistrate as defying logic.

The decision prompted a jubilant reaction from dozens of Ó hAnnaidh’s supporters gathered outside the court. Cheers erupted as the verdict was relayed, with some waving Palestine and Irish flags, and others holding placards reading 'Free Mo Chara'. Ó hAnnaidh himself arrived at court making a powerful statement, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a balaclava in the colours of the Irish tricolour, and sunglasses. Speaking outside, he asserted, “This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about 'terrorism', a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress. It was always about Gaza. About what happens if you dare to speak up. As people from Ireland we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide... Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right, and you are wrong. We will not be silent... If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it is the British state. Free Palestine!”

The verdict garnered strong political support. Daniel Lambert, Kneecap’s manager, declared on X, “We have won!!!!!! Liam Og is a free man... Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine.” He also noted that Kneecap has no charges or convictions in any country, ever. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the decision, stating on X that the charges were “part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.” West Belfast MP Paul Maskey echoed this sentiment, calling the decision the right one and criticizing the “British political assault on Kneecap” which he claimed had failed.

However, the ruling was met with outrage from the Campaign Against Antisemitism. A spokesperson for the group condemned it as a “humiliating debacle” and an act of “utter incompetence” by the authorities, questioning the efficacy of the criminal justice system in such a case and demanding that “heads must roll.” The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated it was “reviewing the decision of the court carefully” and that an appeal was possible. The Metropolitan Police also acknowledged the decision, indicating they would work with the CPS to understand its implications for future cases. The senior district judge also suggested that the taxpayer-funded CPS should bear Ó hAnnaidh’s legal costs due to the unlawful nature of the proceedings.

This case is set against the backdrop of Kneecap’s vocal pro-Palestinian stance. The band, comprised of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, has used its platform to criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza and the perceived complicity of western governments. This is not the first time their activism has drawn legal scrutiny; in July, police dropped a criminal investigation into their Glastonbury Festival performance in June 2023, citing insufficient evidence, despite calls from political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, for their performance to be censored due to their pro-Palestinian opinions. The group has also faced controversy over past comments, such as a video from a November 2023 gig where a member told an audience to “kill your local MP,” asserting, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory.”

The hearing itself was subject to a last-minute change, moving from Westminster Magistrates' Court to Woolwich Crown Court after a burst water pipe rendered the original venue unusable. Despite this logistical alteration, the core message from Kneecap and their supporters remained clear: a commitment to fighting perceived injustice and advocating for Palestine, declaring, “We said we would beat them in their court. And we will. Free Palestine.”