Terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper dropped over procedural error

The terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was thrown out on Friday after a magistrate found a procedural error in the way the case was brought. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said the proceedings had been instituted unlawfully and were null, ruling at Woolwich Crown Court in a hearing of Westminster Magistrates Court.

Ó hAnnaidh, 27, had been accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag and making supporting remarks at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November. Prosecutors had alleged the act amounted to an expression of support for a proscribed terrorist organisation. The defendant has consistently denied endorsing Hezbollah or Hamas and has said he did not know what the flag was when he picked it up. The group and Ó hAnnaidh have said the footage of the UK performance was taken out of context.

The defence, led by Brenda Campbell KC, argued that the charge should be dismissed because the Attorney General had not given formal permission for the case to be brought when police informed Ó hAnnaidh on May 21 that he would face a terror charge. Campbell told the court consent was granted only the following day, which the...