Terror charge against Kneecap’s Mo Chara thrown out by court
Kneecap's manager said: "Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER. Political policing has failed"
The terrorism charge brought against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, AKA Mo Chara, has been thrown out by Woolwich Crown Court due to a technical error.
The 27-year-old was charged in May this year after allegedly flying a flag in support of Hezbollah - a banned terrorist organisation under the 2000 Terrorism Act - during a performance at London’s O2 Forum, Kentish Town, in November 2024.
The group defended themselves against the charge, accusing the Met of “political policing”, and calling the ordeal a “carnival of distractions” by the British government.
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At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in August, Mo Chara's defence called for the charge to be thrown out due to a "technical blunder”, telling a judge that the charge was brought a day after the six-month limit.
Today, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was "unlawful" and "null".
The case was originally scheduled to be heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court but was moved to Woolwich because of a burst water main at the former.
The court erupted into applause upon the announcement of the verdict, reports the BBC, with Ó hAnnaidh’s parents embracing him as he left the court, saying they are “delighted” the legal process is over.
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In August, Kneecap were forced to cancel US tour dates due to proximity of today's hearing. Last week, the trio hit back at "malicious and untrue" allegations after the Canadian government banned them from performing in the country.
Irish politician Michelle O'Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland and Vice President of Sinn Féin, welcomed the ruliing.
In a post on Twitter, Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert said: “We have won!!!!!! Liam Óg is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did. (Twice)”.
“Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER. Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine 🇵🇸”.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Mo Chara said: "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. We have suffered and still suffer under "your empire"."Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right, and you are wrong. We will not be silent. We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. We have.If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it is the British state. Free Palestine! Tiocfaidh ár lá."