![\"Listen](\"https:\/\/www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk\/editorial\/web\/podcasts\/listenonapple.svg\")
<\/a> ![\"Listen](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/spotify330x80.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nProsecutors allege the 27-year-old, who followed some of the proceedings through an Irish interpreter, displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday\u2019s hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.<\/p>\n
![\"Rapper](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/f82a825a-713f-48ef-9eac-a37c4c22230f.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Rapper Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) of Kneecap arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court (Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Brenda Campbell KC told the court the Attorney General 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 May 21.<\/p>\n
She said consent was given the following day, but that meant the charge falls outside of the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said permission was not required until the defendant\u2019s first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge.<\/p>\n
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Kneecap supporters waving flags and holding banners greeted O hAnnaidh as he arrived at court alongside fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Supporters of Kneecap’s Liam Og O hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Photo: Ben Whitley\/PA Wire<\/p>\n
Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside the court building in London, as well as in Dublin.<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court could take place, saying they were needed to \u201cprevent serious disruption\u201d.<\/p>\n
A man was detained by police outside the court building because of a placard he was holding following the hearing.<\/p>\n
The Met said the suspect remains in custody on suspicion of supporting proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action.<\/p>\n
Surrounded by officers, he told reporters his hand-made sign made no reference to any proscribed organisations.<\/p>\n
O hAnnaidh was swamped by photographers as he arrived, with security officers taking more than a minute to usher him into the court building.<\/p>\n
![\"Kneecap's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1b37da90-a0f0-46c3-8e06-2d2e68165cba.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Kneecap’s Liam Og O hAnnaidh, speaks to supporters as he leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Photo: Lucy North\/PA Wire<\/p>\n
Watch: Crowds outside Westminster court as Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh arrives<\/p>\n
Supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people carrier to the building.<\/p>\n
Following the hearing, O\u2019hAnnaidh told supporters the case was a \u201cdistraction from the real story\u201d and urged everyone to \u201ccontinue to speak about Palestine\u201d, adding: \u201cFree Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans held signs which read \u201cFree Mo Chara\u201d while others waved Palestine and Irish flags before the rapper\u2019s arrival at court.<\/p>\n
Chants of \u201cFree, free, Mo Chara\u201d could also be heard over a megaphone, which was repeated by the crowd.<\/p>\n
Mr O Caireallain and Mr O Dochartaigh sat at the back of the courtroom with three others as O hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address to the court at the start of the hearing.<\/p>\n
In response to the Met imposing conditions on the protest, Kneecap described the move as a \u201ccalculated political decision\u201d that was \u201cdesigned to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome\u201d.<\/p>\n
The court previously heard the 27-year-old defendant is \u201cwell within his rights\u201d to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum was a \u201cwholly different thing\u201d.<\/p>\n
O hAnnaidh, of Belfast, is yet to enter a plea to the charge and is on unconditional bail.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how the hearing played out on our live blog:<\/p>\n
Key updates<\/p>\n
Niamh Campbell breaks down Mo Chara\u2019s legal argument over ‘blunder’<\/p>\n
Mo Chara arrives at court<\/p>\n
Sinn Fein MP among protesters outside court<\/p>\n
Colour from today’s hearing<\/p>\n
Some police officers said the only other case they had worked on that attracted a similar level of attention was Tommy Robinson\u2019s trial.<\/p>\n
Met Police confirm arrest of man over support for Palestine Action outside court<\/strong><\/p>\n A man was detained by police outside the court building because of a placard he was holding following the hearing. Hundreds attend solidarity gig in Dublin for Kneecap rapper\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Free Mo Chara’: Sinn Fein MP addressing Kneecap supporters outside court\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Free Palestine and Tiocfaidh \u00e1r l\u00e1’: Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh thanks supporters outside court<\/p>\n The Kneecap rapper addressed activists after he was released on unconditional bail following a second appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Loud cheers as Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh leaves court<\/p>\n The 27-year-old defendant, who is accused of supporting a proscribed terror group, was cheered as he left Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The rapper was released on unconditional bail after the judgment was reserved in the case. Activists waved Palestine flags and Irish tricolours as he made his way out of the courthouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n Judgment reserved after several hours of legal argument over technical ‘blunder’\u00a0 \u201cI will reserve my judgment for a couple of weeks,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The next hearing is to be held on Friday, September 26 at 10am.\u00a0<\/p>\n Irish interpreters appointed to court as Kneecap member faces terror charge\u00a0<\/p>\n Liam O hAnnaidh requested an Irish language interpreter for today’s proceedings at his first appearance back in June. \u00a0 Niamh Campbell breaks down Mo Chara\u2019s legal argument over ‘blunder’ This means the criminal case officially began (was \u201cinstituted\u201d) at the moment the written charge and court summons (called a \u201crequisition\u201d) was issued.<\/p>\n So under the Terrorism Act, the case isn\u2019t considered to have started when the police first arrested or questioned someone; it starts legally when the formal paperwork (the written charge and requisition to attend court) is issued.<\/p>\n The law gives prosecutors six months from the date of the alleged offence (or sometimes from when it came to light) to start proceedings.<\/p>\n O hAnnaidh\u2019s lawyers are arguing that the first notice on May 21 didn\u2019t count, because the Attorney General hadn\u2019t yet given the required permission for the prosecution.\u00a0<\/p>\n If that\u2019s true, then the case only really \u201cstarted\u201d on May 22 \u2014 which they say was one day too late, outside the six-month time limit.<\/p>\n The Crown Prosecution Service disagrees, saying either the Attorney General\u2019s consent wasn\u2019t legally required, so May 21 counts, or that even if it was, the re-issued charge on May 22 is still valid.<\/p>\n So the whole dispute boils down to: Did the prosecution start in time, or was it a day too late and therefore invalid?<\/p>\n Prosecutors oppose defence application to have case thrown out over ‘technical blunder’. \u00a0<\/p>\n Liam O hAnnaidh’s lawyers launched an application for the charge to be dismissed because of the way it was first brought. Official Attorney General consent to terror charge came too late, defence claims They said consent was given the following day and are arguing that this was too late as it falls outside a six-month deadline.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n However, the Crown Prosecution Service is contesting that the Attorney General\u2019s approval is not necessary in order to initiate such a charge.<\/p>\n Terror charge ‘outside time limit’, Kneecap member’s defence team tells court\u00a0<\/p>\n Liam \u00d3 hAnnaidh’s legal team are arguing that the charge of supporting a proscribed terror group was brought too late and should be thrown out.\u00a0 Prosecutors claim the charge was brought on May 21, exactly within the time limit.\u00a0 Lots of signage outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court\u00a0<\/p>\n Hundreds of supporters greeted Kneecap rapper Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh with loud cheers as he exited a silver people-carrier and made his way inside the courthouse this morning.\u00a0 Kneecap shares image of road signs outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court\u00a0 MLA Gerry Carroll addresses the crowds outside the courthouse, condemning “racist protests” in Northern Ireland and criticising the police for going after Kneecap and pro-Palestine groups instead of “racist bigots”.<\/p>\n Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh receives another rockstar welcome at court<\/strong>Following similar scenes at his previous court appearance in June,\u00a0 Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh arrived at court this morning and was once again supported by fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.<\/p>\n The Met Police imposed restrictions on protesters to avoid chaos outside the court. Kneecap described the strict conditions on protesters as a \u201ccalculated political decision\u201d that was \u201cdesigned to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n However the band had appealed to supporters “to go out of your way to be compliant with all instructions issued, irrespective of how pitiful\u201d.<\/p>\n Liam Og O hAnnaidh swamped by photographers as he arrives at court alongside fellow band member<\/p>\n It took the 27-year-old more than a minute to enter Westminster Magistrates’ Court as security officers attempted to usher him through the front entrance.<\/p>\n Hundreds of supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people-carrier to the building, alongside fellow band member Naoise \u00d3 Caireallain (M\u00f3gla\u00ed Bap). This was the scene as Mo Chara arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court shortly after 9.30am. The crowd chanted ‘Free Mo Chara’, matching signs which were held aloft alongside Irish and Palestinian flags.<\/p>\n Sinn Fein MP among protesters outside courtJohn Finucane is addressing activists ahead of Kneecap member Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh’s court appearance. The North Belfast representative has joined pro-Palestine campaigners outside the courthouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We will be here tomorrow, we will be here next week, we will be here next month,” he said. “We will be here as long as is necessary, with one clear voice and one clear message, free Palestine, free Mo Chara, tiochfaidh ar l\u00e1”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The man was detained by police outside the court building at around 1pm because of a placard he…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":361182,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[2378,748,393,4884,28538,257,5825,16,15,6110],"class_list":{"0":"post-361181","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-belfast","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-kneecap","13":"tag-london","14":"tag-niamh-campbell","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-west-belfast-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115064895878307232","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=361181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/361182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The Met said the suspect remains in custody on suspicion of supporting proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action.
Surrounded by officers, he told reporters his hand-made sign made no reference to any proscribed organisations.
In a statement a Met Police spokesperson said: \u201cA man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorist group, Palestine Action, in Marylebone Road, NW1 this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Finucane said “we will be here next month” as he addressed “inspiring” activists outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court.\u00a0
The North Belfast representative told protesters they were “inspiring” as he joined them in “solidarity” with Liam O hAnnaidh.\u00a0
The 27-year-old defendant, who is accused of supporting a proscribed terror group, was released on unconditional bail before the case resumes on September 26.
“The British establishment will not silence the Irish people,” Mr Finucane posted on X alongside a Palestine flag.<\/p>\n
The judge says he is \u201cconscious and anxious\u201d that a \u201cspeedy resolution\u201d will be wanted, and not just for defendant<\/p>\n
It was among the first issues to be dealt with this morning.
The defendant was allowed to exit the dock to sit beside his interpreter (a blonde-haired woman) in the courtroom.\u00a0
The interpreter has been formally permitted by the judge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Barrister Brenda Campbell KC says that \u201cin context of the Terrorism Act\u2026 proceedings were instituted when the written charge and requisition was issued\u201d.<\/p>\n
They argue the consent of the Attorney General a day after the Kneecap member was charged with supporting a proscribed terror group which was outside the six month deadline. \u00a0
Brenda Campbell KC leads the defence.\u00a0
She says the Crown Prosecution Service \u201cnow seeks to rely on a written \u2018charge\u2019 issued by the Metropolitan Police on the previous day, May 21 (2025).\u00a0
Court documents show that the Metropolitan Police issued a \u201cnotice of criminal charge\u201d to O hAnnaidh on May 21, accusing him of supporting a banned terrorist group in November 2024.\u00a0
The notice ordered him to appear in court at 10am on June 18.
The following evening, however, a CPS terrorism prosecutor informed O hAnnaidh\u2019s solicitor by email that the charge was being reissued. A new notice, dated May 22, was attached.
But Michael Bisgrove, for the CPS, opposes the application.\u00a0
\u201cThe Attorney General consent is not required until a court appearance at which the defendant engages with a charge\u201d, he said\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Liam O hAnnaidh’s legal team has told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Attorney General Richard Hermer did not officially grant approval when police charged the 27-year-old with a terrorism-related offence on May 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The defendant was charged on May 22 this year \u2013 a day after the six-month limit for such charges.<\/p>\n
Judge Paul Goldspring is expected to issue a ruling later today.<\/p>\n
Fans held placards reading \u201cFree Mo Chara\u201d while others waved Palestine and Irish flags.
Chants of \u201cfree, free, Mo Chara\u201d echoed out of a megaphone which was repeated by the crowd. \u00a0
The court previously heard the 27-year-old defendant is \u201cwell within his rights\u201d to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.\u00a0
But prosecutors said the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, last November was a \u201cwholly different thing\u201d.
O hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge of supporting a proscribed terror organisation.
Our reporter Niamh Campbell is in London for today’s proceedings.<\/p>\n
The band shared an image of road signs which read “ethnic cleansing in Palestine” shortly before they arrived at the courthouse.\u00a0
The social media post applauds activists.\u00a0
It comes after the rappers urged protesters to comply with the law.\u00a0Gerry Carroll addresses crowds outside court<\/strong><\/p>\n
The third member of the Kneecap trio, J.J. \u00d3 Dochartaigh (DJ Pr\u00f3va\u00ed) has also arrived at the courthouse.\u00a0Mo Chara arrives at court<\/strong><\/p>\n