A British court throws out a terror-related charge against a member of
the Irish rap group Kneecap
[September 27, 2025]
By PAN PYLAS
LONDON (AP) — A London court on Friday threw out a terror-related charge
against a member of the controversial Irish rap group Kneecap, basing
its decision on a technical error in the way the charge was brought
forward.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is also referred to by his anglicized name Liam
O’Hanna and performs under the name Mo Chara, had been charged after
waving a flag of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is banned
in Britain as a terrorist organization, during a London concert last
year.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring sitting at Woolwich Crown Court said
the case should be thrown out, agreeing with O'Hanna's lawyers that the
prosecutors had missed the deadline for the charge by a day.
“These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null,” he said.
There were huge cheers from the public gallery as the chief magistrate
handed down his decision, while O'Hanna smiled and gave a thumbs up to
his supporters.
The Belfast trio, who rap in English and Irish about drugs,
working-class life and the reunification of Ireland, has faced criticism
for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups including
Hamas and Hezbollah. Canada and Hungary have previously banned the
group.
Kneecap has accused critics of trying to silence the band because of its
support for the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band
says it doesn't support Hezbollah and Hamas, nor condone violence.
O'Hanna, 27, had claimed the prosecution was a politically motivated
effort to silence the band’s support for Palestinians.
“We will not be silent,” the rapper told supporters outside the court
after the charges against him were thrown out. “As people from Ireland,
we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide.”
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A person believed to be Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, right, a
member of the Irish language band Kneecap, arrives at Woolwich Crown
Court in London London, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, where he is charged
with a terrorism offence relating to displaying a flag in support of
Hezbollah during a performance with the band in November 2024. (AP
Photo/Joanna Chan)
 Northern Ireland’s First Minister
Michelle O’Neill welcomed the move, saying the 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,”
she added.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was “reviewing the decision of
the court carefully” and pointed out that it can be appealed.
London's Metropolitan Police said it was working with the
prosecutors to “understand the potential implications of this ruling
for us and how that might impact on the processing of such cases in
the future.”
Kneecap has been the center of controversy in Britain since last
year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for
the band, citing its anti-British politics. That decision was
overturned after the Labour Party won last year’s parliamentary
election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office.
The group’s members played themselves in “Kneecap,” which won an
audience award when it was screened at the 2024 Sundance Film
Festival. It was shortlisted for best foreign-language film and best
original song at this year’s Academy Awards, though it did not make
the final cut.
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