A British court has rejected an attempt by prosecutors to revive a terrorism-related charge against an Irish rapper from the group Kneecap, bringing an end to a high-profile legal dispute that has drawn attention across the music and political worlds.

The High Court in London ruled that the Crown Prosecution Service could not reinstate the case against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by the stage name Mo Chara, after the original charge had been dismissed last year.

Judges upheld an earlier decision that the case had been initiated unlawfully due to a procedural mistake in the way the prosecution was filed.

The rapper had been accused of displaying a flag linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November twenty twenty-four.

Under British law, publicly displaying symbols associated with a proscribed organisation in a manner that suggests support can constitute a criminal offence.

However, the case was initially thrown out in September twenty twenty-five by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, who ruled that prosecutors had failed to obtain the required consent from the attorney general before initiating the charge.

Although the permission was obtained the following day, the delay meant the case fell outside the six-month statutory limit for bringing summary criminal offences.

Prosecutors appealed that ruling, arguing that the legal interpretation of the process required clarification.

But two High Court judges rejected the appeal, confirming that the lower court had been correct to conclude that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

In their judgment, the judges stressed that the outcome rested solely on a narrow legal technicality concerning the timing and authorisation of the charge.

They noted that the defendant had not been tried, convicted, or acquitted of the alleged conduct and that the court’s decision did not determine whether the offence itself had occurred.

Following the ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service said it accepted the court’s decision and would review its internal procedures to ensure similar errors do not occur in future cases.

Ó hAnnaidh, who grew up in Belfast and performs in the Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, has denied supporting Hezbollah and has previously said the flag was thrown onto the stage during the concert.

The group is known for politically charged music and outspoken commentary on issues including Irish politics and the conflict in Gaza.

The legal battle attracted significant public attention and sparked debate about freedom of expression, political protest, and the application of anti-terrorism legislation in cultural settings.

Supporters gathered outside court hearings during the proceedings, while the band argued that the prosecution was an attempt to silence its political views.

With the High Court’s ruling, the case has effectively come to an end, closing a chapter in a dispute that has unfolded through multiple hearings and appeals since the original allegation was raised.