Kneecap’s Liam Og O hAnnaidh has had his terrorism charge thrown out by a London court over a technical error.
The Irish punk rock performer, better known as Mo Chara, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court this morning, where the chief magistrate dismissed the charges.
It came after the musician was charged under the Terrorism Act in May.
Kneecap has faced severe criticism, particularly from entertainment industry elites, over their views, with the group staunchly calling for a free Palestine and accusing Israel of genocide.
Mo Chara’s terrorism charge then came after he was accused of showing a flag in support of Hezbollah at a show in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.
The group has been banned from performing in some venues, forbidden from entering certain countries, and their show at Glastonbury wasn’t livestreamed by the BBC over concerns about their behaviour.
The group has maintained that it’s an attempt to silence them and distract from bigger political issues, such as the UK’s complicity in Israel’s murderous campaign in Gaza.
“We massively appreciate the support of what we know are the majority of the public, who can see this farce for what it is,” the group wrote on social media yesterday ahead of Mo Chara’s court appearance.
“It is distraction from war crimes that the British state still support every single day in Gaza.In our view this police action is designed to try and portray support for kneecap as somehow troublesome, and to keep our support far away view when we arrive and depart.
“It is, once again, a calculated political decision the day before Mo Chara's court appearance.”
So, what do we know about the band?
What was the technical error?
The technical error that spared Chara relates to how the charges were brought against him.
Representing Chara, Brenda Campbell claimed that the attorney general didn’t allow permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge in May.
Campbell said consent was then given the next day, but this was outside the six-month timeframe in which criminal charges can be brought against someone.
Paul Goldspring, the chief magistrate, has now ruled: “These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null.”
He added: “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 band’s manager Daniel Lambert said: “Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine.”
Who are Kneecap?
Kneecap are an Irish rap trio hailing from west Belfast, formed in 2017. The group’s name comes from “kneecapping,” a practice by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, where individuals accused of criminal or anti-social behaviour were shot in the legs as punishment.
Known for their politically charged lyrics and provocative stunts, Kneecap’s music often addresses sensitive social and political issues, particularly those related to Northern Ireland's troubled history. Their debut single, C.E.A.R.T.A )"cearta" means "rights" in Irish), set the tone for their unique blend of rap in Irish, combining both cultural pride and activism.
The group consists of three members: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí.
Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh)
Chara is a 26-year-old from west Belfast.
Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin)
Bap is a 30-year-old from west Belfast. His dad, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, an Irish language campaigner, died last year.
DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh)
Próvaí is a 34-year-old from Derry. He’s often photographed wearing an Irish flag balaclava.
Why have they caused controversy?
Kneecap are no stranger to controversy. The group were banned by Raidió Teilifís Éireann, an Irish public service broadcaster, for drug references and inflammatory comments about the Police Service of Northern Ireland. They were also kicked out of their own Dublin gig in 2019 for their inflammatory chants.
In April, the rap trio faced heightened criticism. A video circulated from a November 2023 concert, in which a band member appeared to say: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Labour MP Jo Cox was stabbed and shot in 2016, while Conservative Sir David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021. Sir David’s daughter Katie said she was “gobsmacked” by the group’s “dangerous, violent rhetoric.”
Kneecap have since apologised to the families of two murdered MPs. They said on X (formerly Twitter) that they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual”. They added that the footage had been deliberately taken out of context and was being “exploited and weaponised”.
They added: “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.
“Kneecap’s message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that.”
KNEECAP STATEMENT:
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 28, 2025
They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide.
Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral… pic.twitter.com/qZht5532Zf
Kneecap have previously received arts funding from the Government. However, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the group’s comments as "completely unacceptable" and that he did not think "individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding.”
The band said it was facing a targeted smear campaign after being outspoken about the conflict in Gaza.
What have they said about Hamas and Israel?
At Coachella music festival, Kneecap’s performance featured bold on-screen projections including: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes,” and “F*** Israel. Free Palestine.”
The group’s Coachella appearance drew criticism from some public figures, including Sharon Osbourne, who called for their US work visas to be revoked. Shortly after, Kneecap were dropped by their visa sponsor and had to cancel all their US concert dates.
Controversy was reignited following a resurfaced video from a November 2024 concert, in which a band member appeared to shout: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” — two groups designated as terrorist organisations by the UK Government.
In response, Kneecap previously issued a public statement denying any support for either group. “Let us be unequivocal: We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history.”
According to the Met, Belfast resident Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence by postal requisition under the name Liam O'Hanna.
The charge was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation.
