ARMY BID TO BRING ‘JIHADI BRIDE’ HOME
Defence Forces plan to bring ex-solider home
THE Government and the Defence Forces are drawing up plans to rescue “ISIS bride” Lisa Smith from war-torn Syria, the Sunday Mirror can reveal.
The 37-year-old former Irish soldier is being held with her toddler son in a hellhole camp near Baghouz which fell yesterday.
A senior military source said: “We’re doing this because she is an Irish citizen and her two-year-old son is also an Irish citizen.
“The plan is to take her and her child to an area of safety along the border where the Irish military can become involved and fly her back here.”
Top-level meetings have taken place between the Defence Forces and the Department of Foreign Affairs to draw up a plan to bring Smith home. The source added: “So far to our knowledge the woman herself has not asked for any consular help but her family have. “The bottom line is she is an Irish citizen with a child in a very volatile, war-torn area. She’s in a very vulnerable position and a decision has been made to bring her home.
“Right now the Irish military cannot get in to reach her in that part of Syria but we are using international agencies to get to her.”
Smith, from Dundalk in Co Louth, was a flight attendant in the Air Corps who served high level politicians including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the Government jet.
The source said: “She’s the classic case of a jihadi who was radicalised.
“She’s perfect for ISIS, she was a trained soldier. She flew around the world with top Irish politicians, including the Taoiseach, on a private jet.
“She knew the workings of our military. Once she had left Ireland she disappeared off the radar.
“We can ask how many more are out there like that who we don’t know about.” Last week Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed Smith would be allowed to return, assuring she would undergo a full security assessment.
He said it was the “compassionate thing” to do and as an Irish citizen she should not be left to fend for herself in a volatile, war-torn region.
Mr Varadkar added: “Going to Syria or going to live in what was called Islamic State is not in itself an offence or a crime, so we will need to carry out an investigation.
“I know the authorities there will want to interrogate her to see if she has been involved in any crimes there. But it’s very possible she wasn’t a combatant.” Two weeks ago a woman who helped Smith convert to Islam claimed her friend had been “duped” and said she was “shocked” at the recent revalations. Carol “Karimah” Duffy, who grew up in the same neighbourhood in Dundalk, said she believed a “vulnerable and naive” Lisa was radicalised online and brainwashed. She also said she had been targeted by trolls online and Muslims fearful for their safety had sought a Garda escort to and from the mosque.