Lisa Smith, a former soldier from Ireland, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for being a member Islamic State.
After a nine-week trial at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court, the 40-year-old was found guilty.
Judge Tony Hunt delivered the verdict. He stated that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that she traveled to Syria “with all her eyes open” and that she pledged allegiance the group, which was then headed by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Smith was acquitted by the three-judge jury of another charge of financing terrorist acts by sending EUR800 (PS680), towards treatment for a Syrian citizen in Turkey.
Smith was originally from Dundalk in County Louth and served as a member the Irish Defence forces between 2001 and 2011. She then converted to Islam.
The court heard that she applied for discharge because of inconsistencies in her faith and her military role. In particular, she was denied permission to wear a hijab.
She bought a one-way flight from Dublin to Turkey in October 2015. Then she crossed into Syria through an IS-controlled border.
Smith traveled to Syria to complete her relationship with the Islamic State, according to the judge.
After a failed marriage, she got married to Sajid Aslam. A Briton, the court was told, “had taken a sniper course on her advice.”
Smith was blessed with a daughter in June 2017. She returned to Ireland in December 2019, after the fall of Islamic State.
She was taken into custody at Dublin Airport, and she was charged with terrorist offences.
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Ex-Irish soldier found guilty of being an Islamic State member
After being deported from Turkey , Lisa Smith, IS was arrested in Dublin
Lisa Smith: An alleged member of Islamic State and an ex-soldier from Ireland encouraged British husband to enroll in snipers training, court heard.
The court heard that Smith “encouraged access to IS-controlled territory” and had sought out the means to do so during her trial.
According to the prosecution, Smith “encased herself in the standard of Islam State or black flag.”
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