Kneecap rapper's terror charge thrown out by court ruling

The musician was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, during a London gig last year.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against the Kneecap member was "unlawful" and "null."

Concluding the reasons for his decision, he stated: "I find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP and AG consent within the six-month statutory time limit set by section 127.

"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."

The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command was alerted to an online video from the event on April 22.

Following an investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge.

Kneecap is a hip hop trio from Belfast, Northern Ireland, consisting of members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, the stage names of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Liam O'Hanna) , Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh, respectively.

Known for blending English and Irish in their lyrics, the group released their debut single "C.E.A.R.T.A." (the Irish word for "rights") in 2017.

This was followed by their first studio album 3CAG in 2018.

In a statement, posted online in May, Kneecap said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.

"We deny this offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves.

"This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is."

Responding to the update, Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill posted on X.

She penned: "All charges have been dropped against Kneecap’s Mo Chara. I strongly welcome this decision.

"These charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

"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."

Kneecap's manager Daniel Lambert also shared a post, writing: "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.”