The UK's Crown Prosecution Service will appeal the chief magistrate’s decision to dismiss a terrorism case against Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.

The performer, also known as Mo Chara, was charged with allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November.

London based journalist Vincent McAvinney said this all has to do with a technicality over when the case was brought forward.

“This case was being dealt with initially in the magistrates court, which is the lowest end of the criminal court here in the UK,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“It was all to do with the flying – allegedly – of the Hezbollah flag at a gig in London last year.”

Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, meaning that even showing public support for the group is considered a crime.

A wee message from us 👇 pic.twitter.com/a4n2sWRBad

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) October 7, 2025

“Now, that comes with a six-month period between the incident and the date at which the police and the public prosecution can bring a prosecution,” Mr McAvinney said.

“They claimed that they did that within six months; that they were exactly at the end of the six-month period.

“However, the lawyers for Mo Chara were in court saying that basically, the attorney general did not approve the prosecution until a day later, meaning it was void.

“What’s happening now is the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) is coming back and saying this is an important point of law.”

Mo Chara of Belfast rap group Kneecap emerges jubilant from Woolwich Crown Court having been acquitted of terror charges. (Credit Image: © Lab Ky Mo/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire)

According to Mr McAvinney, the CPS believed that once they had brought the charge forth, they had a further month to seek approval from the attorney general to proceed with the case.

“It sounds like they want full clarity on where they are in the law on this,” he said.

“But there has been a strong reaction from Kneecap themselves, putting out a statement saying that they were surprised by this, but it’s unsurprising given the whole process, they say, has been driven by politicians.”

@newstalkfm "If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it's the British state." Kneecap's Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) delivers a speech to supporters outside Woolwich Crown Court, London, after the terrorism case against him was thrown out. #ireland #irishtiktok #kneecap #court #mochara #newstalk ♬ original sound - Newstalk

Mr McAvinney said the public perception is that it’s “somewhat embarrassing” that the CPS “couldn’t get it right before bringing this kind of prosecution”.

“It’s played into the argument that Kneecap is making,” he said.

“Which is that it’s a political prosecution, that it’s once again, the British state against people, particularly from the island of Ireland, willing to speak out against the actions of the British state.”

Main image: Rapper Mo Chara of the Irish hip hop group Kneecap stands on a stage as supporters gather outside Woolwich Crown Court following the ruling. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy Live News