UK court dismisses terrorism charges against Kneecap member Mo Chara

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UK court dismisses terrorism charges against Kneecap member Mo Chara

2 months ago

News sources:

REUTERS

MIDDLEEASTEYE

ALJAZEERA

TRTGLOBAL

UK court dismisses terrorism charges against Kneecap member Mo Chara

Credited from: REUTERS

A UK court has thrown out terrorism charges against Kneecap member Mo Chara.
The charges were dismissed due to a technicality involving the timing of the prosecution.
Kneecap and its supporters assert that the legal actions are a form of political oppression.

A London court has dismissed terrorism charges against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, from the Irish rap group Kneecap. The charges arose from an incident in which he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a concert in November 2024, which resulted in legal action initiated in May. Judge Paul Goldspring ruled that the prosecution was brought beyond the six-month time limit allowed for such charges, declaring it "unlawful and null," met with cheers from supporters in the courtroom, according to Reuters, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera.

Ó hAnnaidh, 27, denies the charge and has consistently labeled it a politically motivated act against the group, which has voiced support for Palestinians amidst ongoing conflicts. The court found that there was a failure to secure the necessary consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions before charging him, further complicating the legitimacy of the case, as noted by TRT Global and Reuters.

Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.