The terrorism case against the 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, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, last November.
At Woolwich crown court on Friday, the chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, agreed with Ó hAnnaidh’s lawyers, who argued 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 terrorism charge on 21 May.
In his judgment, Goldspring said: “These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null.”
Kneecap’s manager, Daniel Lambert, wrote on X: “We have won!!!!!! Liam Og is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did (Twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER.
“Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine.”
More details soon …