Ex-soldier Lisa Smith to face trial as court rejects bid to have terrorism charges dismissed

24th January 2022

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Former soldier Lisa Smith will go on trial tomorrow after the Special Criminal Court rejected a last minute bid to have charges against her dismissed.

The 39-year-old is charged with membership of the Islamic State terror organisation and financing terrorism.

She had been due to stand trial at the non-jury court earlier this month, but this was postponed after her lawyers made an application to have the charges dropped.

They argued that there was not enough evidence to bring a prosecution against Ms Smith and made an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act.

It allows for the trial court to dismiss charges if it finds that there is an insufficient case against the accused.

This morning Mr Justice Tony Hunt said there was sufficient evidence for the charges to proceed to trial.

The non-jury court dismissed the application and permitted both charges to proceed to trial. Details of the proceedings cannot be published under the act.

The case is expected to begin before the Special Criminal Court tomorrow morning when prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC is due to give his opening address.

Ms Smith is charged with membership of an unlawful terrorist group, the Islamic State, between October 28, 2015, and December 1, 2019.

The accused, with an address in Dundalk, Co Louth, is also charged with financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6, 2015.

The former soldier’s trial at the non-jury court is expected to last 12 weeks.

Ms Smith joined the Defence Forces after leaving school in 2000 and served with the Air Corps.

She later converted to Islam and left Ireland in 2015.