Court throws out terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Mo Chara

Liam Óg, also known as Mo Chara, with his team.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh’s terrorism case was dismissed on technical grounds at Woolwich Crown Court today after the Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring described the charges as “unlawful” and “null”. 

The rapper, 27, who performs as Mo Chara for the rap group Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a gig in London last November. 

The case was thrown out after it emerged that the attorney general Richard Hermer had not given permission for the case to be brought against the Belfast musician before the police informed him he would face terrorism charges. 

The attorney general gave his permission the day after the police charged Mo Chara, taking it over the sixth-month window from when the offence is alleged to have occurred - making it unlawful. 

The group are well-known for their support of Palestine and identified the charges as a political tool to silence support for Palestinian resistance: "This entire process was never about me.

"It was never about any threat to the public, it was never about terrorism – a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress. It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up. Your attempts to silence us have failed because we're right and you're wrong."

The case has led to a groundswell of support for the group who have long-been critics of Israeli military aggression against Palestine as well as vocal critics of the British government.

Irish First Minister Michelle O’Neill congratulated  Ó hAnnaidh’s victory on X describing the trial as “Part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”