Verdict delayed on terror charge for Kneecap's Mo Chara at latest court hearing
Mo Chara's defence called for the charge to be thrown out during today's hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court due to a "technical blunder"
A judge has postponed today's hearing of a charge brought against Kneecap member Mo Chara after his defence argued that the case should be thrown out on a "technical blunder".
According to The Belfast Telegraph, Judge Paul Goldspring told Westminster Magistrates Court on August 20 that judgement of the case has been reserved for "a couple of weeks".
He reportedly told the court that he is “conscious and anxious” that a quick resolution is wanted by the defendant. The next hearing will go ahead on Friday, September 26.
Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence in May after a video resurfaced allegedly showing him flying a Hezbollah flag during a 2024 London show. Hezbollah is a banned terrorist organisation under the 2000 Terrorism Act.
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Inside the court, Ó hAnnaidh’s defence told a judge that the charge was brought a day after the six-month limit, and should therefore be thrown out.
The group have defended themselves against the charge, accusing the Met of “political policing”, and calling the ordeal a “carnival of distractions” by the British government.
The rapper was met by hundreds of supporters outside Westminster Magistrates Court when he arrived ahead of the ruling this morning, many holding up placards reading: "Free Mo Chara", others waving Palestine and Ireland flags.
The court appearance was Ó hAnnaidh’s second this year, after he was granted unconditional bail at an earlier hearing for the same charge in June.
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Ahead of his arrival alongside bandmates DJ Próvaí and Moghlaí Bap, the group shared a statement on Instagram, reading: “Since [Mo Chara’s] last court appearance, Israel has murdered another 9,000 Palestinians, mainly children and women.”
“Over 1,000 murdered whilst queuing for aid, starved due to their siege, whilst pitiful amounts of aid are delivered by a sham agency controlled by Israel,” they wrote.
“As the British state arms and supports these war crimes, they'll have Mo Chara in court in London tomorrow to try to label him a terrorist. Come down and show your support / solidarity outside the court.”
[Via: The Belfast Telegraph]
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
