Opinion
11 Mar 26

KNEECAP's Mo Chara will not face new terror trial, as Crown Prosecution Service loses appeal

Kneecap at 3Arena on December 16th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

"This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public, and never about ‘terrorism'," a statement from Mo Chara reads. “It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up."

There will be no new trial for KNEECAP's Mo Chara – also known as Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – as the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has this afternoon lost its appeal against the decision to throw out the terror case against the rapper.

Back in January, Paul Jarvis KC, on behalf of the CPS, told the the High Court in London 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.

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 High Court in London on January 14. The judges who heard the case published their judgement digitally today, agreeing with the chief magistrate's previous ruling that the charge against Mo Chara had been brought outside the six-month time limit.

In a statement provided through his lawyers, as reported by the Irish Examiner, Mo Chara had this to say about today's decision:

“I owe eternal gratitude to my legal team, who left no stone unturned in ensuring justice was upheld.

“This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about ‘terrorism’, a word used by the British Government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world.

“It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy.

“I will not be silent. KNEECAP will not be silent.”