Courts / Louth / Report
Lisa Smith jailed for 15 months for IS membership
Summary
Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier from Dundalk, Co Louth, has been jailed for 15 months by the Special Criminal Court following her conviction for membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015, and December 1st, 2019. Smith, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a three-judge, non-jury court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt set the headline sentence at two years and six months but reduced it by 50 per cent to 15 months, citing mitigating factors including her previous good character, military service, and low risk of re-offending. He noted that while she was persistent in joining Isis, there was no evidence she did more than ally herself with the group. The sentence was backdated by one month to account for time in custody. Mr Justice Hunt refused to suspend any portion of the sentence and denied Smith's application for bail pending an appeal, stating there was no basis for such a release. The matter is now in the hands of the Court of Appeal. Smith is the first person convicted in an Irish court of an Islamic terrorist offence committed abroad.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lisa Smith jailed for 15 months for IS membership. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- December 2019 Incident
- October 28th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 1st, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-07-22 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who travelled to Syria to join Isis in 2014, has been jailed for 15 months by the Special Criminal Court. During a previous hearing, they had asked the court not to send Smith to jail and to consider a wholly suspended sentence.
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