Lisa Smith: ‘Syria Was Hell On Earth But Still Better Than Dundalk’

Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, who was found guilty yesterday of being a member of Islamic State, has said Syria was hell on Earth but still better than Dundalk.

The Muslim convert travelled to Syria after terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on all Muslims to move to his declared caliphate. In an RTE interview yesterday, she explained what life was like there.

“We had no electricity or running water and there was the constant threat of bombs but on the other hand there was no chance of running into Jim Corr so it was worth it.”

Smith also claimed the reason she cried in court yesterday was not because of the guilty verdict but because the judge released her on bail until July.

“I’m not allowed to leave Dundalk. I have to live in that kip for another two months. Haven’t I suffered enough already?”

Mayor of Dundalk Barney Fitzmaurice hit back at Smith’s comments this morning.

“Dundalk is a wonderful town. For a start we gave the world of music The Corrs. Okay so Jim is mental but we gave the world of sport Steve Staunton? Okay so he was Ireland’s worst ever manager and they were probably two terrible examples but what about Oriel Park? The home of Dundalk FC and hands down the worst dump in the League of Ireland. Oh God, she’s right. Dundalk really is an awful kip.”

Lisa Smith said she has asked her lawyers to plead with the judge to send her to a prison as far away from Dundalk as possible, like Cork or Afghanistan.