The decision, made while Badenoch served as Business and Trade Minister, was deemed “unlawful and procedurally unfair” by Kneecap’s legal team during court proceedings.

The group has been awarded £14,250, the same amount initially granted to them before the funding was revoked.

In a statement, Kneecap criticized Badenoch and her department for attempting to “silence us,” adding, “They have failed.” The group announced plans to divide the compensation equally between two youth organizations working with Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland to foster unity and build a better future.

A government spokesperson said the department chose not to continue contesting the case, explaining, “We do not believe it is in the public interest.” They added, “This government’s priority is to reduce costs and protect taxpayers from further expense.”

Kneecap originally applied for the arts grant in December 2023 as part of a program supporting UK-based artists in global markets. While their application was initially successful, the funding was blocked following an intervention by the Department for Business and Trade.

At the time, a spokesperson for then-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch justified the move, stating they did not want to allocate taxpayers’ money “to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself.”

Kneecap’s music and marketing often reflect themes of Irish republicanism and opposition to British rule in Northern Ireland, leading to significant controversy. A 2019 tour titled Farewell to the Union reportedly angered the Conservative government, and one of their most popular tracks, Get Your Brits Out, humorously depicts a fictional, drug-fueled night out with members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Following Friday’s court ruling, band member DJ Próvaí emphasized that the case was not about the money, stating, “It could have been 50p.” The group pursued legal action as a matter of “equality,” describing the government’s actions as “an attack on artistic culture, the Good Friday Agreement, and Kneecap’s way of expressing ourselves.”

The £14,250 will be split between two Belfast charities: Glór na Móna in Ballymurphy and RCity Belfast on the Shankill Road.

Sarah Jane Waite, director of RCity Belfast, expressed gratitude for Kneecap’s “generosity and support,” noting the donation will fund local and international projects.

Conchúr Ó Muadaigh, chairperson of Glór na Móna, praised the group’s contribution, stating it would have a lasting impact on their work with young people and the Irish language revival in west Belfast.