Live: Terror charge against Kneecap band member thrown out by court

The terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.

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 has been vocal about opposing.

“We are not the story, genocide is,” a statement posted by the group on social media said.

In August, Ó hAnnaidh’s lawyer Brenda Campbell KC told a court that the Attorney General 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.

Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded.

Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent

Find us on social:
TikTok /   / independent  
Instagram /   / the.independent  
X (Twitter) /   / independent  
Facebook /   / theindependentonline  

Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh
Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x

Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations