Fury after authorities ‘missed deadline’ to bring terror charges against Kneecap rapper

According to sources, the attorney general's office was only asked for permission to prosecute after the deadline had already passed. However, the CPS claimed in a statement to the JC that it followed the “correct” procedure.

Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis said: “There appears to have been a serious failure in the administration of justice in this case and there must be a full enquiry examining every aspect of the procedure. Why on earth was an important statutory deadline missed? These questions must be answered promptly to restore confidence in the legal process.”

Speaking at the court on Friday, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled: “These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null.”

Explaining the basis for his ruling, he 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.”

Responding to the ruling on X, Shadow Lord Chancellor Robert Jenrick took aim at the Attorney General, saying: “Why was the most senior law officer in govt not across a high-profile terrorism case?

“Lord Hermer has either displayed breathtaking incompetence or his hard left politics have influenced his conduct.

“He brings fresh embarrassment to the Government every day.”

The CPS said they are “reviewing the decision of the court carefully”, adding: “The decision can be appealed by the CPS.”

Expanding on this, a CPS spokesperson told the JC: “This is the first time this point of law has been considered in the courts and as such the procedure followed by the police and CPS at the time of the charge was correct.”

Reacting to the news, a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Heads must roll over this humiliating debacle.

“This is a matter of utter incompetence by the authorities,” they added. “Here is a prime example of how difficult it is for British Jews to get justice in this country… A lot of Jewish people are starting to throw up their hands in despair at the dire state of our criminal justice system, which clearly is incapable of protecting them.”

A JLC spokesperson added: “We have a right to expect that serious offences involving proscribed terrorist organisations are prosecuted properly. When they are not, it risks leaving these offences unaddressed and undermines confidence in the rule of law."

Meanwhile, there was jubilation among Ó hAnnaidh and his supporters.

Jude Bunting KC, who was on Ó hAnnaidh’s legal team, told the court "this case was every bit unjustified as it was flawed", while his parents said they were "delighted" it was over.

However Simon Myerson KC told the JC that it was not the victory Ó hAnnaidh was claiming.

“As this is a pure point of law it seems to me, and has little or nothing to do with the merits of this individual’s behaviour, there is a distinct irony in his constant assertions that this is all about justice and what he calls ‘genocide’,” he said.

“A neutral observer might conclude that he doesn’t have as much confidence in his defence as he is protesting.”

The Attorney General’s office was contacted for comment.