Terror charge against Kneecap band member thrown out by court

"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."

"In August, Mr O 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."

"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."

Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh faced a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a November 2024 gig in London's Kentish Town. He was charged in May under the name Liam O'Hanna and denied the offence, calling it political policing and a carnival of distraction from the war in Gaza. His lawyer told a court that attorney general consent was not given when police informed him on 21 May and was only granted the following day, placing the charge outside the six-month statutory window. Woolwich Crown Court chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled the proceedings unlawful and null for lack of timely DPP and AG consent, leaving the court without jurisdiction. Prosecutors had argued consent was only required at first appearance.

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