Judgement reserved in appeal over Mo Chara's terror case dismissal

An appeal against a British judge's decision to throw out the terror case against Mo Chara of KNEECAP is taking place at the High Court in London today – with the judges hearing the case confirming that they would hand down their ruling at a later date.

According to The Irish News, Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, stated at the end of the hearing that they would be "reserving judgement."

“It means that the judgment will be published digitally," he continued. "There won’t be, necessarily, a further hearing at which it will be read out or anything like that. It will be put on the internet.”

“It is probably not going to be necessary to have a further hearing because the consequences of whatever decision we reach will be fairly clear. If we uphold the chief magistrate and agree with him, the order he made will stand. If we do not… then it will go back so that he or one of his colleagues will proceed to hear it and deal with it.”

In court today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) argued that the previous ruling was an "error."

Paul Jarvis KC, on behalf of the CPS, told the court that the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring "fell into error in his interpretation of the law", when he decided to throw out the case against Mo Chara, also known as Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.

Mo Chara was previously accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah – who have been a proscribed organisation in the UK since 2019 – at a London show in November 2024.

However, the terrorism case against him was thrown out in September 2025, after the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that the charge was "unlawful" – stating that "proceedings were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP and AG consent within the six-month statutory time limit."

In October 2025, the CPS announced that it would appeal the decision, and on January 1, KNEECAP took to social media to remark that "The Brits are at it again" – announcing that the appeal would be heard at the Hight Court in London on January 14.

"It is the view of our legal team that there is not an iota of logic for this, it is without any sound legal basis," KNEECAP's post read.

"It is another flailing arm to distract from, and to try and silence those who stand on the right side of history as they are complicit."

Crowds gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London today, waving both Palestinians and Irish flags, and holding placards reading 'Free Mo Chara'. One supporter held up a signpost unofficially renaming the area 'KNEECAP Junction'.

In a social media post this afternoon, KNEECAP claimed that today's appeal hearing "was a distraction from the complicity of the British government in genocide."

"Today more Palestinians were murdered by Israel," their post continues. "More homes demolished and more children dead due to cold and lack of aid not permitted to enter by Israel. That is the ONLY thing about this whole witch-hunt worth talking about.

"Today was a waste of public time, and public money. We now believe over a million pounds has been wasted. Tax payer money that could and should have been spent on improving the lives of ordinary people.

"Instead it has been spent at the behest of politicians who are hellbent on silencing those who seek to stand in solidarity with those suffering a genocide. Politicians acting at the behest of lobby groups.

"To our legal team you have our eternal thanks. To everyone who came to support us once again today and for those sending solidarity from across the world we are beyond grateful.

"Finally we must remember those brave young heroes on hunger strike in British jails. Support them in every way you can. Free Palestine. Free the Filton 24. Free the 6 countries."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)