State say Smith was ‘radicalised’ in Dundalk

FORMER soldier Lisa Smith has insisted she ‘never joined Isis’, a court heard after she was charged with membership of a terrorist group.

The mother of one (37) was ‘vulnerable’ and only went to Syria to live in the Islamic State (Isil) as a loyal Muslim, her lawyer said. She condemned Islamist terrorists and had walked across the desert through ‘ bombs, poverty and cesspit camps’ with her young daughter to get away from their ‘ barbaric state’.

Ms Smith was denied bail after gardaí objected, alleging she had married a member of Isil and ‘pledged allegiance’ to the group. Judge Colin Daly remanded her in custody for a week at Dublin District Court.

The charge alleges Ms Smith, from Aghameen Park, Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, was a member of a terrorist group outside the State between October 28, 2015 and December 1st this year.

It is alleged it was an organisation styling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), also known as Dawlatal-Iraq al Islamiya, Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) and Dawlat al Islamiya fi Iraq was al Sham, otherwise known as ‘Da’esh’ and the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham.

Ms Smith was arrested at Dublin Airport on Sunday after being deported from Turkey and was detained for 72 hoursfor questioning. Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane said she made no reply to the charge at Kevin Street garda station yesterday. Objecting to bail, he said the charge carried a potential sentence of 10 years. Further charges were contemplated.

It was alleged the accused had been radicalised in Dundalk. She ‘ travelled to

Syria and pledged allegiance to Islamic State in the full knowledge of its brutal regime’ after a caliphate was declared, Det Sgt Kane said.

It was also alleged she provided financial support to named individuals.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Peter Corrigan said Ms Smith had an ‘exemplary’ career in the Defence Forces before going through a difficult time, when she suffered depression. She found Islam in 2011, was a ‘very loyal Muslim’ and was told in 2013 by a spiritual adviser that if a caliphate was declared, all Muslims were obliged to go to the Islamic State. Living there did not make someone guilty of an offence, Mr Corrigan said.

Ms Smith spent time at a ‘ horrendous’ camp before walking through the desert to get to Turkey and return to Ireland.

She was questioned by authorities there and the FBI. ‘Her case is that she never joined Isis, she lived in an Islamic state, she lived by the Koran,’ Mr Corrigan told the hearing. There was no evidence of her training anyone or that she ever held a gun and she ‘vehemently’ denied being involved in fighting. She had not provided financial assistance to Isil, but gave money – £800 (€945) – to people living in poverty, Mr Corrigan said.

Ms Smith was ‘ in an emotional state’ as she had been separated from her daughter and was ‘missing her terribly.’ Prosecution solicitor Edward Flynn said the DPP directed trial on indictment.

The judge recommended Ms Smith is separated from the rest of the prison population for her own safety while in custody.

Ms Smith wore a black burqa with most of her face covered for the hearing.