Gardaí will question Isis bride if she returns to Ireland
LISA Smith will be questioned over suspected terrorist offences if she returns to Ireland, a senior Garda has revealed.
Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan said yesterday that detectives have been gathering evidence and there are sufficient grounds for officers to carry out such a probe.
Mr O’Sullivan also said the 38year-old mother of a young daughter, who is currently in a detention camp in Syria, can be prosecuted under existing legislation, but that will be a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
It is an offence under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 to engage in terrorist activity in or outside the State.
Ms Smith – a former member of the Defence Forces who served on the government jet before travelling to territory controlled by Isis – is ‘a person of interest’ and one of two Irish citizens under criminal investigation on suspicion of committing terrorist offences with Isis. The other is Alexandr Bekmirzaev, who is also being detained in Syria.
Mr O’Sullivan also said that five other Irish citizens who travelled to conflict zones have returned and, following investigations, the Gardaí are satisfied they pose no threat to the State.
They estimate that 30 Irish people travelled to fight in wars abroad and believe 16 of them are now deceased.
They also say they are monitoring around 50 suspected Islamist supporters and sympathisers, five of whom are deemed such a security threat they are under intensive surveillance.
Mr O’Sullivan said Ms Smith first came to Garda attention in 2012 and the Garda investigation is retrospectively examining her activities, her movements in and out of the country, and her associations at home and abroad from that time.
Mr O’Sullivan insisted yesterday that there are avenues of investigation open to the Gardaí and they are working closely with the prosecution service as to how they can put the information they receive into evidence. He said he believed they will bring ‘a comprehensive file’ to the DPP.
He said that gardaí know that she converted in 2012, but that she chose to become a Muslim and was entitled to do so.
However, he said he does not believe she was radicalised in Ireland and insists she did not pose a threat to government ministers, officials and the State when she was in the Defence Forces. He also said there were conflicting reports about whether or not she wants to come home and there is concern within the Government and diplomatic community about her young daughter, an innocent child in ‘appalling circumstances’.
He said it is not the role of the Gardaí to repatriate her. He told RTÉ News that An Garda Síochána will have to assess if Ms Smith might pose a threat to the State if and when she returns to Ireland. He also pointed out that the law is untested for terrorist offences committed abroad. He also described the current situation along the Syrian/Turkish border as ‘evolving’ and of concern.
A ‘comprehensive file’ for the DPP