RAPPER Mo Chara of the Irish-language group Kneecap was cleared of all charges today due to a “technical error” by prosecutors as the Belfast group accused the government of using terrorism laws to “discredit” free speech.

The 27-year-old, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today where he was cleared of his alleged support of a proscribed terror organisation during a concert at the O2 Kentish Town in November 2024.

O hAnnaidh was later charged in May for brandishing a Hezbollah flag while saying “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring accepted the defence’s argument that the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to receive proper consent when the rapper was charged.

Under the Terrorism Act, prosecutors must seek consent from the attorney general (AG) and the director of public prosecutions (DPP) within six months following the alleged crime.

Mr Goldspring 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.

“Consequently the charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge.”

Following the verdict, O hAnnaidh came out to an ecstatic crowd, saying: “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.”

He added: “Your attempts to silence us have failed because we’re right and you’re wrong. We will not be silent.

“We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. Today, we have.

“If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it’s the British state. Free Palestine.”

Despite crowds of over 1,000 people at Kneecap’s two previous court appearances, only around 150 people came out to support the group this time, after the trial was moved from Westminster Magistrates’ Court at the last minute.

Yael Kahn, 72, who joined the demonstration in support of Kneecap, welcomed the ruling but said she was “outraged” at the government’s use of terror laws to criminalise support for Palestine.

She said: “Instead of arresting Israeli terrorists — and one of them was here, the president of Israel [Isaac Herzog] was here in the UK — they are proscribing Palestine Action.

“Instead of arresting the real terrorists, Britain is actually participating and facilitating and arming the extermination of the Palestinians.”

Deirdre O’Connor, 42, was also outside the court and said she was “relieved” to hear that the charges were dropped.

She told the Star: “I’m obviously relieved that it is finished now. It would have been really worrying if he was not found innocent.

“It’s all scare tactics. It’s not about Mo Chara, its about Palestine and them speaking out about Palestine and the genocide. It’s all very obvious that this is a distraction.

“How much money was wasted on this trial? All for it to be thrown out on a technicality. What’s the cost of that?

“The fact that [prosecutors did not file charges] in time, that just shows you that they don’t care about the Hezbollah flag.

“It’s really about sending a message to others who want to speak out.”

Speaking from outside the court, the West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: “Today’s decision not to proceed with the prosecution of Liam Og O hAnnaidh is the right one.

“Kneecap have bravely and unapologetically used their platform around the world to call out Israel’s genocide and the complicity of western governments.

“It is the Israeli war criminals and those who fund, support and enable genocide and forcibly starve women and children who should be before the courts, not Kneecap’s Mo Chara.

“The British political assault on Kneecap which led to this case has failed.

“Today, those on the right side of history have prevailed.”

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German told the Morning Star: “It’s brilliant that the charges against Liam Og O hAnnaidh have been thrown out, and also deeply humiliating for the police and the prosecution.

“Their pursuit of the case was always politically motivated and the magistrate’s decision confirms that.

She added: “Now all charges against Palestine protesters, including Stop the War’s Chris Nineham and Alex Kenny, PSC’s Ben Jamal and CND’s Sophie Bolt, must be dropped, and the ban on Palestine Action lifted.”