CPS to appeal ruling over consent timing in Kneecap terrorism charge

The Crown Prosecution Service said on Tuesday it will appeal a decision that dismissed a terrorism charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, a 27 year old member of Irish rap group Kneecap, after a London chief magistrate ruled prosecutors had failed to bring the charge in the correct form. The charge, brought in May, related to an allegation that Ó hAnnaidh displayed a Hezbollah flag and made supportive remarks at a concert in north London in November last year. The case was thrown out at Woolwich Crown Court on September 26.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring found the proceedings were unlawful because they lacked required consents from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General within the six month statutory time limit under section 127. Goldspring said in his judgment 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." As a result, he ruled the court had no jurisdiction to try the charge.

Prosecutors say they will challenge that ruling because it raises an important point of law. A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said, "We are appealing the...