Courts / Louth / Report
Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith guilty of Islamic State membership
Summary
Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, aged 39, was found guilty of membership in the Islamic State by the Special Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected Smith's claim that she joined the group out of religious obligation or to live under Sharia law, stating that religion is irrelevant to criminal membership. Smith was not found guilty of the second charge of funding terrorism, as the court accepted that the €800 she sent in May 2015 could have been for humanitarian reasons. The court held that Smith travelled to Syria with full knowledge of Isis's violent activities and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi. Smith was granted bail until her sentencing hearing on 11 July, with the judge noting her compliance with bail conditions over the past two years. The verdict was delivered after a 90‑minute hearing. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty. Islamic State pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith guilty of Islamic State membership. 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:
- July 11 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 28th, 2015 Other
- December 1st, 2019 Other
- May 6th, 2015 Other
- December 2019 Other
- 2022-05-30 Publication
Why: He said that a person would not gain immunity for arson, assault or murder because he believed he had a religious obligation to persecute witches. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
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)
Defendant
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
Convicted Person
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
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