Judges at the High Court in London dismissed a Crown Prosecution Service appeal on Wednesday against the dismissal of a terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh. Lord Justice Edis and Mr Justice Linden upheld Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring's ruling from September that the proceedings began unlawfully.

Ó hAnnaidh, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, faced accusation of displaying a flag supporting the proscribed group Hezbollah at a gig in the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, north London, on November 21, 2024. Prosecutors issued the first written charge on May 21, 2025, one day before receiving Attorney General permission.

The court determined this initial charge fell outside the six-month limit from the alleged offence date. The judges stated the decision rested on a narrow technical point and did not address whether Ó hAnnaidh committed the alleged act. They noted Ó hAnnaidh has neither been tried nor convicted on the charge.

Lord Justice Edis pointed out that both the Director of Public Prosecutions and Attorney General viewed the charge as meeting prosecution criteria, yet it would not proceed.

After the ruling, Ó hAnnaidh and band members held a press conference at Conway Mill in west Belfast. Ó hAnnaidh credited his legal team from Phoenix Law and indicated the case connected to comments on Palestine rather than public safety or terrorism. He said Kneecap would keep addressing such issues despite lost performances and travel limits.

Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law stated the High Court affirmed the chief magistrate's finding that the proceedings were unprecedented and unlawful from the outset. A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed acceptance of the judgment and plans to adjust procedures for similar cases.