Kneecap supporters gather at High Court ahead of appeal case

Claire GrahamBBC News NI, London Royal Courts of Justice

PA Media Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has short black hair, wears black sunglasses, a black and white scarf and a black jacket. — Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, pictured at an earlier court hearing

Supporters of rap trio Kneecap have gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of an appeal against a decision to drop terrorism charges against one of the group’s members last year.

UK government is appealing Decision to reject the case dated September 2025 The case against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was dismissed on technical grounds as to how the charge against him was brought.

was indicted in May In November 2024, he allegedly displayed a flag supporting banned organization Hezbollah at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.

The 28-year-old actor, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, denied the accusation and said it was political.

Irish tricolor flags and Palestinian flags were raised as crowds continued to gather

Kneecap fans gather in a group outside the field. A sign says 'Kneecap Junction' and police officers stand around the group. Participants of the meeting are holding various banners, Palestinian flags and tricolor flags. — Irish tricolor flags and Palestinian flags were raised as crowds continued to gather

Supporters arrived just before 09:00 GMT carrying the Irish tricolour, Palestinian flags and various banners.

Lawyer Darragh Mackin (left) arrives with DJ Provai (behind Mackin) and Kneecap’s band manager Dan Lambert (right)

Lawyer Darragh Mackin arrives with DJ Provai and Kneecaps band manager Dan Lambert — Lawyer Darragh Mackin (left) arrives with DJ Provai (behind Mackin) and Kneecap’s band manager Dan Lambert (right)

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane spoke to Kneecap supporters outside the field.

“We will continue to stand by Liam, we will continue to stand on the right side of history,” the Belfast North MP said.

John Finucane MP speaks outside the Supreme Court

John Finnucane speaks to the crowd from a small stage outside the pitch. He has short black hair and wears a dark suit, purple tie, and a dark knee-length wool coat over a white shirt. She also has a navy blue and dark green plaid wool scarf. On stage there are Irish tricolor flags on poles, and behind them a red brick building can be seen, as well as a multi-storey building covered with scaffolding and white plastic. — John Finucane MP speaks outside the Supreme Court

Ó hAnnaidh’s defense previously argued that the charge had not been brought within the six-month period since the alleged crime took place.

In September Chief Justice Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against Ó hAnnaidh was “unlawful” and “void”.

In his ruling, the judge noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was not given permission to consent to prosecution until 22 May, the day after Ó hAnnaidh was charged.

If the date of the charge is accepted as 22 May, this was six months and one day after the London concert at which the crime was allegedly committed.

The decision did not relate to any of the allegations facing Ó hAnnaidh.

Court documents state that the case of DPP v. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh will be heard at Wednesday’s hearing.

The DPP argues that it was sufficient for the charge to be brought before Ó hAnnaidh first appeared in court on 18 June 2025 to answer the written charge.

After September verdict, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh said he “will not be silenced”

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced in October 2025 that: will appeal the decision “We believe there is an important point that needs to be clarified in the law.”

In a statement posted on social media at the time, Kneecap said the appeal would be “a huge waste of taxpayers’ money, police time and court time”.

The group added: “The news that the CPS is appealing its own judge’s decision is not surprising.

“This is not surprising because the whole process was not carried out by the police or the courts, but by politicians supported by the British media.”

They said it was “political policing”.

“There is no point from a legal point of view. CPS has not presented anything new in its objections. But there is a statewide witch hunt against Palestinian solidarity.”

In a social media post earlier this month, Kneecap said: “In the opinion of our legal team, there is not a shred of logic in this [appeal]It lacks a solid legal basis.”