Kneecap's Mo Chara breaks silence as terror charge dismissed - 'we have suffered'

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has broken his silence after is terrorism charge was dismissed in London today. The Kneecap member has had a terrorism charge against him thrown out of court this morning.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, better known as Mo Chara, 27, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for the third time over allegations that he displayed a Hezbollah flag during one of the group’s London performances in November last year. He faces a charge under the Terrorism Act. The group have continuously denied the allegations that Óg Ó hAnnaidh is facing.

Mo Chara's legal team argued that the ca se should be thrown out, citing what they say is a technical flaw in how the charge was issued. The court today agreed and the case has been dismissed.

After the verdict, Mo Chara addressed the hundreds of supporters outside the court who had travelled far and wide to back the Belfast-born rapper.

READ MORE: Kneecap's Mo Chara in court LIVE: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's breaks silence as terror charge dismissed

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Outside the court, Mo Chara thanked his legal team and interpreter. "A massive thank you to my legal team. Darragh, Jude, blinne, Brenda, Gareth and to all at Phoenix law. A special thanks also to my interpreter Susan," he said.

"This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and 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. As people from Ireland we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide. We have suffered and still suffer under "your empire".

"Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right, and you are wrong. We will not be silent. We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. We have. If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it is the British state. Free Palestine! Tiocfaidh ár lá."

Lawyer Darragh Mackin has that O hAnnaidh – also known by his stage name Mo Chara - has been "acquitted of all charges".

Posting on X Mr Mackin said: "The prosecution case was instituted unlawfully. The case ends today.
"Victory to Mo Chara. Victory to Kneecap. Victory to the freedom of expression."

Elsewhere, Kneecap manager Daniel Lambert said that Mo Chara was "a free man" in a post online following the court decision.

"We have won!!!!!! Liam Óg is a free man," he said. "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."

Following the verdict, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was “reviewing the decision of the court carefully”.

It pointed out that the decision could be appealed against. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the decision by the court in relation to this case.

"We will work with the Crown Prosecution Service to understand the potential implications of this ruling for us and how that might impact on the processing of such cases in the future.”

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was “unlawful” and “null”.

Concluding the reasons for his decision, he said: “I find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP and AG consent within the six-month statutory time limit set by section 127.

“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.”

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