UK court throws out terrorism charges against Kneecap artist

A UK court has on Friday thrown out terrorism charges against a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, due to the way in which the charges were brought. 

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, was initially charged over allegations that he waved the flag of Hezbollah during a concert in London in November 2024. 

The Lebanese group is a proscribed organisation in the UK. 

The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, which says it is a criminal offence to display an article which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone supports a proscribed organisation. 

After a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Judge Paul Goldpsring ruled that Og O hAnnaidh was charged after the six-month limit to bring such a charge which can only be dealt with by the magistrates' court.

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