Kneecap star Mo Chara's terror charge dismissed by court
Mo Chara's terror charge has been dropped on the technical grounds that the “six-month statutory time limit” had not been met.
Kneecap star Mo Chara's terror charge has been dismissed by the court.
The 27-year-old Irish star - whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (26.09.25) after he was charged with a terror offence in May for "displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah" at their O2 Forum Kentish Town gig in London in November 2024.
However, as the Metropolitan Police failed to meet the “six-month statutory time limit” for issuing the requisition, the case has been thrown out.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “I find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form.
“The time limit requires consent to have been granted at the time or before the issue of the requisition. Consequently the charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge.”
He had been on unconditional bail since the first hearing in June.
Liam hugged his parents as he left the court before addressing fans and supporters who had gathered outside the courthouse. Some waved Palestinian and Irish flags, while others held up placards emblazoned with the words "Free Mo Chara".
Addressing the crowd, Ó hAnnaidh said: "This entire process was never about me. It was never about any threat to the public, it was never about terrorism – a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress. It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up. Your attempts to silence us have failed because we're right and you're wrong.”
Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert celebrated the victory, writing 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.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill also took to X in the wake of the court's decision.
O'Neill posted: "All charges have been dropped against Kneecap’s Mo Chara. I strongly welcome this decision.
"These charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
"Kneecap have used their platform on stages across the world to expose this genocide, and it is the responsibility of all of us to continue speaking out and standing against injustice in Palestine."
Loyal supporters turned out in the masses at each of Chara's court appearances in protest.
Kneecap have had concerts and festival slots pulled since the backlash and were forced to cancel their sold-out 2025 US headline tour due to "the close proximity" of the court hearing this week.
The Crown Prosecution Service has stated that it is “reviewing the decision of the court carefully” and noted that it could appeal.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they would “work with the CPS to understand the potential implications of this ruling… and how that might impact the processing of such cases in the future".
In the UK Hezbollah is proscribed as a terrorist organisation and it is a criminal offence to express support for the group who are at war with Israel.
