Irish jihadi jailed for funding ISIS
Guilt at western lifestyle fuelled dad’s support of terror group
AN Irish-based jihadi accused of raising money for ISIS has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Hassan Bal, of O’connell Street in Waterford, had pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the funding and attempted funding of the terror group.
The 26-year-old appeared before the local Circuit Criminal Court yesterday in a navy suit, white shirt and black tie.
The judge was told a radicalisation report revealed father-of-one Bal had become a fundamentalist due to his guilt and shame at living a western lifestyle.
Supt Anthony Pettit said the case was uncovered when an investigative journalist from a British Sunday newspaper alerted UK police.
The reporter, who uses the alias Omar Wahid, pretended to be a jihadi sympathiser offering a donation of £1,000 [€1,130] to the cause.
He made contact with Omar Hussein, a British-based ISIS fundamentalist dubbed the Supermarket Jihadi, who also uses the name Abu Abdul Rahman Britani.
He in turn contacted Bal, who was sending the money to another ISIS fundraiser in Bosnia.
The court heard the accused was using the online messaging service Kick to communicate with all those involved, including the undercover journalist.
The arrangement was the money would be dropped off at a building firm in London. Bal then sent his brother – who was innocent and believed the funds were for charity – to pick it up.
However, when the package was found to be empty, the Supermarket Jihadi sent threatening messages to the reporter.
Meanwhile, he had taken a photograph of the brother and alerted UK police, who subsequently got in touch with gardai.
During searches of Bal’s home in Waterford, detectives discovered images of him dressed in military fatigues and wielding a gun. It was later found to be a replica.
They also found a fake press card using the alias David Fahy in which he claimed to be a photojournalist.
An An Post Western Union receipt in the property showed he had sent €400 to the Bosnian Jihadi to help fund terror activities.
A download of his phone traffic revealed 435 separate messages sent to his contacts.
The accused was already on the Garda’s anti-terror watchlist. He had travelled to Syria but was turned back at a Turkish airport by local police. He had been interviewed on his return to Ireland.
In a radicalisation report by a German expert, Bal stated he was motivated out of guilt that he wasn’t a good Muslim and wasn’t doing enough to help his fellow Muslims in Syria.
The court heard he was married to a British Muslim, whose sister had travelled to the war-torn country along with her husband. He had fought and been killed there.
Bal, who was originally from the UK, moved to Ireland with his family at age 12, living initially in Wexford and then in Waterford from 2007.
He holds an Irish passport and had been working occasionally as an
WATERFORD YESTERDAY
electrician. His Turkish father and British/irish mother had separated.
His family told the report author they believed he became radicalised while he was spending time in the UK with his dad and that when he returned “he had changed”.
Bal had himself told the expert he regretted his involvement and that his arrest taught him a lesson.
He had said: “I became Bal is driven from court last night closeminded to the wrong I was doing. I heartily believed it was my duty to support them [ISIS].”
Judge Eugene O’kelly read into the record: “The main driver of his radicalisation was a deep-rooted, almost pathological sense of guilt and shame resulting in a constant search for repentance and redemption.
“This was as a result of his strict religious upbringing and his parents divorcing and his own desires indulge in a western lifestyle.”
He imposed a sentence of four-anda-half years on the second count, of which two were suspended, and a three-year term on the first, with one year suspended.
He will serve two-and-a-half years, backdated to when he went into custody.
Judge O’kelly directed that Bal, on to his release, must not interact with radical groups and must undergo counselling under the guidance of the probation service.
He also paid tribute to gardai and the investigative reporter and complimented the lawyers involved in the case, the first of its kind in Ireland.
After sentencing, Supt Chris Delaney assured the public there was no active Islamic terror group in Waterford.
He said: “It is also important to recognise and acknowledge the excellent positive relationship that exists between the local Muslim community and An Garda Siochana.
“Our Ethnic Liaison Officers work closely with the community. Members of this local Muslim community have contributed significantly to the development of the city over recent years and are a highly valued group within Waterford City.”
The main driver was an almost pathological sense of shame
JUDGE EUGENE O’KELLY