Trial Continues For Former Soldier Lisa Smith

Thursday, 24 March 2022 16:31

By Caoimhe Harney

The Dundalk woman is accused of financing terrorism.

The Special Criminal Court has found no reason as to why it shouldn’t consider verdicts in the Lisa Smith trial.

Ms Smith is a former member of the Irish Defence Forces from Dundalk, Co Louth, and is accused of being a member of the terror group, ISIS.

It has taken over two months for this trial to get to closing stages and after the final prosecution witness was called, the defence applied for the non-jury court to return not guilty verdicts.

Lisa Smith denies being a member of ISIS from 2015 to 2019 and she also denies trying to finance terrorism through an attempted wire transfer.

Her barrister claimed the standard of evidence presented hadn’t reached the required threshold for safe consideration.

To assess this evidence and to consider verdicts on the back of it would be “unfair” and a “miscarriage of justice,” he argued.

However, the judges disagreed and in their ruling, they found no reason why it shouldn’t proceed.

The defence intends to call one witness next week and then both sides will be given an opportunity to address the court for a final time.

More from National News

€540k Worth Of Ketamine Seized In Major Kildare Raid

A man in his 20s was arrested - he can be detained for up to a week.
Former GAA Referee Thomas Howard From Old Kilcullen Jailed For Indecently Assaulting His Niece

He previously appeared before Judge Sinéad McMullen at Tullamore Circuit Court, where the court heard details of the abuse of his niece, Maeve Leahy, during the mid-1980s and 1990s.
Mother Of Late Harvey Morrison Focused On Change For Children With Spina Bifida And Scoliosis

Audio

It's after the government agreed to set up a statutory public inquiry into the care of those children.
Taoiseach Seeks Details After Kfm Reported How A Newbridge Childminder May Face Commercial Rates

Audio

Margaret Donohoe's case was raised in the Dail yesterday by Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, who asked the Taoiseach if now is the "time to be chasing childminders for commercial rates" amidst a "crisis in accessibilioty and affordability in childcare".
New Housing Plan Targets 300,000 Homes - But Lacks Annual Delivery Goals

The Government also aims to bring 20 thousand derelict homes back into use through grants.
There Has Been Another Increase In The Rate At Which Prices Are Rising According To CSO Figures

It show's the largest rise in costs was in the education sector and also food and drink
Dublin Set for Citywide 30km/h - Kildare Council Advancing Similar Speed Cuts In Estates

Audio

Kildare County Council have raised similar issues for towns and villages across Kildare.
After Racist WhatsApp Fallout, Sacked Derrinturn Ógra Aontú Leader Invokes Teachings Of Jesus Christ

In an attempt to further distance himself from the fallout, Mr Bryan claimed that there is a "reason why young men in this country find dark humour so appealing. It is because we feel we have been sold out", claiming that young people have "been left a country that is Irish in little else but name".