The terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.
The 27-year-old Belfast musician, who performs as Mo Chara, was charged in May under the name Liam O’Hanna for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a gig in London’s Kentish Town in November 2024.
He denied the offence, labelling it “political policing” and a “carnival of distraction” from the war in Gaza, which Kneecap have been vocal about opposing.
“We are not the story, genocide is,” a statement posted by the group on social media said.
In August, Mr Ó hAnnaidh’s lawyer, Brenda Campbell KC, told a court that the attorney Ggneral had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on 21 May.
She said consent was given the following day, which meant the charge fell outside the six-month timeframe in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought.
At Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring agreed with Ms Campbell.
In his judgment, Mr Goldspring said: “These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null.”
Concluding the reasons for his decision, he said: “I find that these 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.
“The time limit requires consent to have been granted at the time or before the issue of the requisition.
“Consequently the charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge.”
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove previously told a court that permission from the DPP and AG was not required until the defendant’s first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge.
The chief magistrate dismissed the arguments, telling the court they “defy logic”.
Outside court, Ó hAnnaidh said the terrorism case “was always about Gaza”.
“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.
“It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up.”
Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the development.
“These charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza,” she wrote on X.
“Kneecap have used their platform on stages across the world to expose this genocide, and it is the responsibility of all of us to continue speaking out and standing against injustice in Palestine.”
Meanwhile, Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert wrote on X: “We have won!!!!!!
“Liam Og 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.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was “reviewing the decision of the court carefully”.
It pointed out that the decision could be appealed against.
