'Absolutely gigantic' amount of disclosure ahead of trial of Lisa Smith

Former Irish Defence Forces member is charged with membership of the Islamic State terrorist group and with financing terrorism

Lisa Smith is due to go on trial on January 11 and the trial is expected to last 12 weeks. 

The Special Criminal Court has been told that there is an "absolutely gigantic" amount of disclosure ahead of the trial of former Irish Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, who is charged with membership of the Islamic State terrorist group and with financing terrorism.

The case was briefly mentioned today at the three-judge, non-jury court, where Ms Smith was not required to be in attendance.

Michael O'Higgins, defending, said the "very large disclosure" of information from the prosecution in a "variety" of different formats made it difficult to download and print out. 

"It's absolutely gigantic," said Mr O'Higgins.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, fixed the case for November 1 for a hearing regarding video-link evidence from international witnesses. 

Ms Smith, aged 39, from Dundalk, Co Louth, who is on bail, is also excused from the next sitting of the court.

She is due to go on trial on January 11 and the trial is expected to last 12 weeks.

She is charged with an offence contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for being a member of unlawful terrorist group Islamic State (IS) between October 28, 2015 and December 1, 2019.

She is also charged under the same legislation for financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6, 2015.