Overview

• The Crown Prosecution Service said it is appealing the September 26 ruling that threw out the case against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh as “unlawful and null.”
• Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring found prosecutors lacked Attorney General/Director of Public Prosecutions consent within the six‑month limit; the Attorney General says consent was granted hours after a May 22 request.
• The contested point is whether consent must be secured before a defendant is charged or whether it suffices to have consent by the first court appearance.
• The allegation concerns a November 2024 London gig where Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag and chanted slogans, an accusation he denies.
• Attorney General Lord Hermer cautioned Robert Jenrick against comments that could prejudice proceedings, as Kneecap condemned the appeal as a waste of public money and vowed to fight it.