Lord of the Dance
ISIS bride Lisa Smith terrorism trial set for 2022
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ISIS bride Lisa Smith terrorism trial set for 2022

'ISIS BRIDE' Lisa Smith is set to go on trial for charges of terrorism in January 2022.

She appeared in front of the Special Criminal Court in Co. Dublin on Monday morning.

Her trial date has been set for January 11, 2022, and could last up to 12 weeks.

If found guilty, Smith could face up to 10 years in jail.

The former Irish Defence Forces soldier has denied charges of being a member of terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) from October 28 in 2015 until December 1 in 2019.

She returned to Ireland nine months ago and was subsequently arrested.

The 38-year-old left the country following the breakdown of her marriage and travelled to Syria, where she converted to Islam, allegedly married a British jihadist and had a daughter.

Smith has been accused of aiding ISIS during her time in the Middle-East, and there are reports that she financed the group by sending €800 in assistance to a named man on May 6, 2015 - something she denies.

The Dundalk native travelled to Turkey with her young daughter, before reaching a refugee camp, where she sought a return to Ireland.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 prior to her return, Smith claimed she never picked up a gun during her time with ISIS and played no part in the training of young girls to fight for the group.

"I'm not a terrorist, I'm not out to kill anyone,” she told the broadcaster.

"Do I have any intentions to do anything? No, I'm just interested in trying to bring my daughter up and get her educated.

"I don't even think I'm radicalised, all I know is I came to Islamic State and I failed.

"At the beginning I didn't come to kill anyone, when I was there I didn't kill anyone, and when I go home I'm not going to kill anyone. I just think I'm the same, you know."