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\n\tA ruling in Kneecap member Mo Chara\u2019s terror case in the U.K.<\/a> will be issued next month, a judge said, after lawyers for both sides argued over whether the case against the rapper was brought within the proper six-month time frame.<\/p>\n \n\tMo Chara, real name Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh, made his second appearance at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The Belfast rapper\u2019s terror charge is tied to a November 2024 Kneecap concert in London, where \u00d3 hAnnaidh allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag on stage. But the London Metropolitan Police weren\u2019t made aware of the alleged incident until April 2025, with charges being brought the following month.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tAs The Belfast Telegraph<\/a><\/em> reports, \u00d3 hAnnaidh\u2019s defense team is currently trying to have the case dismissed on technical grounds, saying the charge was brought one day after the six-month limit for such charges expired. Prosecutors countered that the charge was brought within the proper time frame.<\/p>\n \n\tThis debate hinges further on legal particulars related to how <\/em>and when <\/em>a charge is brought under the U.K.\u2019s Terrorism Act. \u00d3 hAnnaidh\u2019s lawyers said their client first received notice of the charge on May 21, which didn\u2019t count as an official charge because the Attorney General hadn\u2019t given prosecutors permission to bring the case yet. They argued that the charge was officially brought on May 22, one day after the six-month limit expired. The Crown Prosecution Service, however, said the May 21 charge was valid because they did not need the AG\u2019s permission to at that time.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tAt the end of the hearing, Judge Paul Goldspring acknowledged the importance of a \u201cspeedy resolution\u201d in the case, but said, \u201cI will reserve my judgment for a couple of weeks.\u201d He scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 26.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00d3 hAnnaidh arrived at the courthouse on the morning alongside his bandmates M\u00f3gla\u00ed Bap (Naoise \u00d3 Caireall\u00e1in) and DJ Pr\u00f3vai (JJ O\u2019Dochartaigh).<\/p>\n \n\tAhead of today\u2019s hearing, the Metropolitan Police established a restriction zone for protesters ahead of the court appearance, implementing \u201cPublic Order Act conditions to prevent serious disruption being caused by a protest outside Westminster Magistrates\u2019 Court tomorrow.\u201d Kneecap responded to the restrictions<\/a> last night on social media, writing, \u201cWe massively appreciate the support of what we know are the majority of the public, who can see this farce for what it is. It is distraction from war crimes that the British state support.\u201d<\/p>\n