Isis bride case will be a test – but it’s right to bring Lisa Smith and her daughter home

WHEN so-called Isis bride Lisa Smith arrives back in Ireland, as now appears imminent, it still has not been fully explained how she will be dealt with by the authorities, and by An Garda Síochána in particular.

It is an offence under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 to engage in terrorist activity in or outside the State, but the legislation has never had to deal with a case like this.

Indeed, it is hard to see how a case can be made without video evidence of wrongdoing, or testimony from witnesses.

As things stand, we may never know if the former member of the Defence Forces engaged in any military activity with Isis. Smith says she did not, and there seems little chance she ever will be contradicted.

This newspaper believes it is correct to bring her home. She is an Irish citizen and, more importantly, so is her young daughter. Even though the 2005

Act provides for prosecution for membership of a foreign terror organisation, securing a conviction will prove challenging.

It is almost a decade since radicalised Muslims started leaving their homes in European countries to travel to the Middle East to join Isis, and we have had plenty of time to make sure there are no loopholes preventing us from dispensing justice to those who return home.

It would be naive to think that even now, despite the fall of the so-called ‘caliphate’, there are not citizens of this country being radicalised for terrorist causes, in the name not only of extremist Islam, but other causes too.

So while Smith indeed should be brought home, she must be robustly questioned and constantly monitored – as must those who pose a terrorist threat on Irish soil, in continental Europe, or in fractured combat zones far away.

BAILEY WOULD BE DELUDED TO STAND

MARIA BAILEY arguably has a case against Fine Gael, which has removed her from the election ticket in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. The local branch of the party had called for her removal, leaving the party’s National Executive in an uncomfortable position, because an internal investigation ruled that the TD was not guilty of making a fraudulent claim, merely of over-egging the extent of her injuries when she fell off a swing in the bar of a Dublin hotel. Her demotion at the time was understood to have closed the matter.

Ms Bailey defended herself in a public statement but it once again highlights her sense of entitlement.

Many constituencies turn a blind eye to wrongdoing to score a point over what they see as Dublin media interference. Ms Bailey is deluded if she thinks that would be the case in her own constituency.

A GREAT LOSS IN ENTERTAINMENT

ANOTHER week, another loss. Niall Tóibín not only was one of our finest actors, he was also a superb raconteur and mimic, and a gifted stand-up comedian. He cast a mischievous eye on the foibles of our country, and his unique sense of humour will be greatly missed.