**Terrorism Case Against Kneecap Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh Thrown Out Over Technicality**
The terrorism case against Liam Og O hAnnaidh, the 27-year-old Belfast rapper from the group Kneecap, has been dismissed due to a technical error in how the charge was brought against him.
Performing under the stage name Mo Chara, O hAnnaidh was accused of displaying a flag supporting the proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year.
At Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring agreed with O hAnnaidh’s lawyers. They argued that the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to proceed when police informed O hAnnaidh he was to face a terror charge on May 21.
In his judgment, Mr Goldspring stated:
“These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null.”
Huge cheers erupted from the public gallery as the chief magistrate delivered his ruling. O hAnnaidh smiled and gave both thumbs up to supporters at the conclusion of the hearing.
Following the verdict, the rapper addressed crowds, saying:
“We will not be silent.”
He added:
“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.”
Continuing, O hAnnaidh declared:
“Your attempts to silence us have failed because we’re right and you’re wrong. We will not be silent. We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. Today, we have. If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it’s the British state. Free Palestine.”
After leaving the court, O hAnnaidh applauded as crowds cheered and posed for photographs with his bandmates.
In concluding his decision, Chief Magistrate Goldspring explained:
“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.”
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove had previously told the court that permission from the DPP and AG was only required at the defendant’s first court appearance and not to bring a criminal charge. However, the chief magistrate dismissed these arguments as defying logic.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said following the hearing:
“We will work with the Crown Prosecution Service to understand the potential implications of this ruling for us and how that might impact on the processing of such cases in the future.”
Daniel Lambert, manager of Kneecap, celebrated the outcome, posting on X:
“We said we would fight them and win. We did (Twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill also welcomed the decision, commenting:
“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.”
The prosecution had previously outlined that the case against O hAnnaidh was based on video evidence showing him wearing and displaying the Hezbollah flag while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/hezbollah-terror-case-against-kneecap-rapper-thrown-out-after-technical-error-1811271.html
