Courts / Louth / Report
US convert who taught Lisa Smith was wanted by FBI, trial hears
Summary
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony from FBI Agent Alan Goehring regarding John Georgelas, an American Islamic convert who taught Lisa Smith about the Quran. Agent Goehring stated that Georgelas was placed on an Interpol red alert in June 2016 for charges including providing material support to a terrorist organisation. He further noted that in 2006, Georgelas was sentenced to 34 months in prison after pleading guilty to accessing a computer to obtain passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website. The court also heard from the accused, Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier from Dundalk, Co Louth. Ms Smith has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not guilty to financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance via a Western Union money transfer to a named man on May 6th, 2015. During interviews with gardai, Ms Smith alleged that Georgelas helped her escape a women's "madaffa" in Syria after five months. She described the facility as a prison and stated she did not carry a weapon or provide military assistance. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: US convert who taught Lisa Smith was wanted by FBI, trial hears. Charges or matters: accessing a computer to get passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website; 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: sentence
When:
- March 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 14, 2016 Other
- October 28th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 1st, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 6th, 2015 Incident
- December 2019 Incident
- 2022-02-03 Publication
Why: " She said that she liked living in the Islamic State at first because there were no pubs selling alcohol, no prostitution and no gay people. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: accessing a computer to get passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website; 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 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Agent Goehring also told the court that in 2006, Georgelas was sentenced to 34 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to accessing a computer to get passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website.
Accused
Charges: accessing a computer to get passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website; 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
- Special Criminal Court
- taken to Kevin St Garda Station
Topics
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