https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce846r2drg8o

Kelly Bonner and Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
Published
26 September 2025, 10:13 BST
Updated 4 minutes ago
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.

He was charged in May after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, in November 2024.

The 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, denied the charge and has described it as political.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against Mr Ó hAnnaidh was "unlawful" and "null".

The court erupted into applause as the judge handed down the ruling.

As Mr Ó hAnnaidh left the court his parents hugged him and said they were "delighted" it was over.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has welcomed the ruling.

The case was due to be heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court but was moved to Woolwich, due to a burst water main.

Hezbollah is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

During a court appearance on 20 August legal arguments around whether the charge was brought within the six-month time limit were heard.

His defence team were seeking to throw the case out, citing a technical error in the way the charge was brought against Mr Ó hAnnaidh.

by remark

30 comments

  4. It was ridiculous that it was taken in the first place. But it did enough damage to lose them a lot of high profile gigs, plus their US promoter.

    It will be interesting to see if they can get back in to play the States again.

  5. Hopefully the background of the instigator on X is now subject to scrutiny – along with the extra millions of public money that their organization gets to throw about.

  7. Thank god common sense won this one, but what an absolute waste of fucking time and resources by the British establishment.

  8. Ludicrous that it was ever brought forward in the first place. Nothing more than an attempt by the British government to deflect from the genocide being committed by Israel.

  9. I wouldn’t be surprised if the failure to get permission from the DPP and the Attorney General was done on purpose. The trial would have been a humiliating shambles for the Government whatever the outcome. This ‘technically’ allows the government to walk away with a shred of dignity.

  10. “after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah”

    It wasn’t “allegedly”, he’s on video doing that.

    Typical republicans getting handled with kid gloves…

  11. Can they sue for damages? They definitely lost out on money because of this.

  12. Waste of time bringing such extreme charges on Liam O’Hanna, was always going to go nowhere and all you end up doing is making yourself look stupid and give Kneecap free publicity.

  17. What a waste of time. Glad the law prevailed. What was the actual terrorism charge he was charged with? Does anyone have the statute number and exact wording?

  18. Well no one saw that coming 🙄 fair to the lads FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸

  19. Of course they were never really going to slap the cuffs on the clown waving that Hezbollah rag. The whole business was more about “marking their card” – a sly little “we’re watching you,”..

    These idiots never fail to amuse, though. Can you imagine? The minute some equally rancid halfwit dared to lob back the same bile they dish out – urging a mob to “murder them” as merrily as they shrieked “murder your MP!” – they’d squeal for state protection like spoiled brats caught nicking pick ’n’ mix.

    But here’s the gift!

    in their squalor they’ve handed the world a peek behind the curtain at what passes for “everyday life” and “progressive attitudes” n
    grubby nationalist petri dish they slithered out from.

    So.. Keep cosplaying as the IRA, keep wallowing like sewer rats, keep parading your warped version of “Irishness” in all its scabrous glory. The rest of us are taking notes, and it’s not a pretty picture.

  22. Free publicity, got them more recognition than any concert or promotions.

  23. Let’s return to reality for a moment and stop pretending this is some grand vindication, it was a technical fuck up by the prosecution. The charge was ruled unlawful, but the act itself still is.. waving a Hezbollah flag, and the other dumb shit that wanker came out with is very clearly an offence, under UK law, Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation. Now, I don’t think it was that big a deal, I don’t think there was malice in it, they’re just a bunch of idiots who picked up something thrown on stage and didn’t think. If I was conspiracy minded I’d maybe think it was probably thrown up there by some Zionist infiltrator, knowing they’d be dumb enough to pick it up and squawk.

    And let’s be straight, you can and fucking should support Palestine, Israel is a stain on our world, but we can support an oppressed people without waving the flag of terrorists. That just hands the state and its Israeli handlers ammunition.

    And lastly, that embarrassing courtroom applause says it all, people cheering a man walking on a technicality. Kneecap thrive on this kind of manufactured controversy and in the current climate people are quick to eat it up, but at the end of the day this wasn’t a political victory, the state’s incompetence just saved their skin, this time. They’ll put their foots in it again, of that I have no doubt, and next time the state will be prepared.

  24. The next question should be when will Mo decide to wave the Hezbollah flag again – and if not, why not.

  25. Why didn’t the prosecution get the required consent from the DPP and Attorney General before charging him?

  26. Of course it was! It was a fuckin joke all along. But great publicity for the lads. Every cloud I suppose.

  30. Does anyone actually enjoy their music? Feel like people pretend. Horrible music.

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