Courts / Louth / Report
Lisa Smith 'indoctrinated and told what to think', witness tells trial
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Tania Joya, a UK national radicalised in her teens, testified that former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, aged 39, was indoctrinated into a false belief in a fake god and travelled to Syria in 2013 to join the rebellion against the Assad regime. Joya described Smith as excited, optimistic, and eager to die as a martyr. Smith, who had a military background, was respected by Arab men and married a Tunisian Al Qaeda member. Joya claimed Smith was influenced by John Georgelas, an American convert to Islam, who she said was charismatic and knowledgeable of the Koran. Smith pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019 and to financing terrorism by sending €800 in May 2015. The trial is proceeding before a three‑judge panel.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lisa Smith 'indoctrinated and told what to think', witness tells trial. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019; financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- October 28th, 2015 Other
- December 1st, 2019 Other
- May 6th, 2015 Other
- 2022-01-27 Publication
Why: Photo: Collins) Former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, who denies membership of Islamic State, was "indoctrinated and told what to think and did what she did because she believed in a fake god," a woman who knew her in Syria has told the Special Criminal Court. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019; financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019; financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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