The terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.
The 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, last November.
At Woolwich Crown Court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring agreed with Mr Ó hAnnaidh's lawyers, who argued that the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on 21 May.
In his judgment, Mr Goldspring said: "These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null."
Watch: Kneecap arrive at court wearing balaclavas
Concluding the reasons for his decision, Mr Goldspring said: "I find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP and AG consent within the six-month statutory time limit set by section 127.
"The time limit requires consent to have been granted at the time or before the issue of the requisition.
"Consequently the charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge," he said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was "reviewing the decision of the court carefully".
It pointed out that the decision could be appealed against.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Ó hAnnaidh said his terrorism case "was always about Gaza".
After thanking his legal team and his interpreter who helped him follow court proceedings, Mr Ó hAnnaidh said: "This entire process was never about me.
"It was never about any threat to the public, it was never about terrorism - a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress.
"It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up.
"As people from Ireland, we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide."
He added: "We have suffered, and still suffer, under your empire. Your attempts to silence us have failed because we're right and you're wrong. We will not be silent.
"We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. Today, we have.
"If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it's the British state. Free Palestine. Tiocfaidh ár Lá."
Kneecap beat 'smear campaign' that was 'driven by politicians'
Kneecap's manager Daniel Lambert has said the band will not change what they do after terrorism charges were dropped against band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is 'Mo Chara’.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News, Mr Lambert said the band knew from the start of the proceedings that they would win, labelling the case a farce, an enormous waste of money and a campaign by Zionists to silence solidarity with Palestinian people.
"I think an easy thing to say would be the police messed up, but I think the reason there was such a basic mistake made was that this wasn't being driven by the police, was being driven by politicians.
"There was a rush, at the behest of extremely organised lobby, to push this through post-Coachella because the facts that Kneecap spoke in America in April weren't palpable, and weren't something that Zionists were willing to accept, they didn't want to see young Americans support Palestine," he said.
Mr Lambert added: "Young Americans do stand with Palestine - the majority of them - and that wasn't something that they wanted to see happen.
"Ultimately there was a rush here to try and target Kneecap. I said it was a smear campaign at the start. It was, it is. And we've beaten it.
"So, I don't think it's down to the fact that it, a silly mistake was made. I think it's down to the fact that it was being driven by politicians and not by the police."
Mr Lambert added that the band would continue performing around the world and celebrating Ireland.
He also said that the band will take legal action in Canada against MP Vince Gasparro over banning the group from the country.
Watch: "It was a smear campaign and we've beaten it" - Kneecap manager Daniel Lambert
"It's probably worth saying we've no correspondence whatsoever from the Canadian government.
"We've seen one social media video from a guy I'd never heard of called Vince Gasparro.
"Everything that he said in that video is outrageous. It's libellous in the extreme and we will be taking legal action against Vince," Mr Lambert said.
He added: "Canada is a great country. There's great people there. There's a big Irish community there and the lads have played in Canada before and hope to play there again."
Mr Lambert, who is also the COO of Bohemian Football Club, said hoped to be celebrating another victory this evening.
"We’re having a few pints tonight to be fair. Bohs are playing Rovers later on, hopefully Bohs can get the win."
However, he said Kneecap have a big few months ahead of them now.
"There's a big tour in November. It's sold out. There’s two 3Arena [gigs] sold out. We’re in Japan in January, and then we're off to Australia later on after that. So, lots ahead for Kneecap."
