CPS chief admits collapse of Kneecap rapper case was ’embarrassing’
The Director of Public Prosecutions has admitted the collapse of the case against Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh was “embarrassing” for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but claimed they had “learned our lessons”.
Appearing before the House of Commons Justice Committee, Stephen Parkinson also rejected claims that the deadline for the Attorney-General to charge the rapper was “accidentally and deliberately” set by someone at the CPS.
Mr O hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag supporting the banned terrorist organization Hezbollah during a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21, 2024.
However, the case was rejected in September last year, when the magistrate judge ruled that the trial was “unlawfully initiated”. CPS subsequently challenged this decision in the High Court, but their appeal was ultimately rejected.
The judge agreed with Mr O hAnnaidh’s legal team that prosecutors needed permission from the Attorney General to charge the rapper before On May 21, he informed him that he would face terrorism charges.
This permission was requested and granted the next day; The court heard the charge meant he fell outside the six-month period within which criminal charges could be laid against the defendant.
Mr Parkinson said the CPS had placed a “flag” in its system in response to the error and hoped automation would prevent something similar from happening in the future.
When he was told the case was “a disgrace to the service” he said: “I accept… but it was just a matter of summary (a less serious offence) so the issue arose.
“He only came to us for early advice about three weeks before the deadline and that was for early advice from the police.
“I think we received the evidence file about 48 hours before the deadline and turned the situation around within 24 hours.
“So for six months we weren’t stroking our chins and looking into the middle distance.
“This is one of those last minute cases and I’m afraid a mistake was made, but it was a disturbing experience.”
He added: “As you would expect from me, I had an uncomfortable conversation with the Attorney General, but I feel we have learned from it.”
Asked further on the issue, Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox asked Mr Parkinson: “Do you think this was an accident, or do you think this was accidentally done deliberately by someone somewhere in the chain who didn’t want the case to be brought?”
He replied: “I have no reason to think this was anything other than an accident.”
Sir Ashley later said it was “a remarkable coincidence that someone in this controversial case forgot to ask the Attorney General in time”.
Responding, Mr Parkinson stressed that the evidence was “at a very, very late stage” and added: “I’m afraid, based on my many years of experience in criminal law, that it is always a conspiracy, not a conspiracy.”
Sir Keir Starmer has called for Kneecap not to play Glastonbury festival in 2025 following Mr O hAnnaidh’s first hearing.
The group has since appeared to mock the Prime Minister, including bidding him farewell in Irish after he announced his resignation as Labor leader.
