Lisa Smith's lawyers challenge the legality of her arrest

Her defence solicitor said that the Act Ms Smith was arrested under has no provision for offences alleged to have taken place outside of Ireland

The court heard that Lisa Smith (pictured) is charged with offences under the 2005 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act, and should not have been detained using the Offences Against the State Act 1939. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Lawyers for Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who denies membership of Islamic State, have challenged the legality of her arrest when she returned to Ireland from Syria in 2019.

Michael O'Higgins SC told the Special Criminal Court that Ms Smith was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Offences Against the State Act 1939. He said there was no provision under that Act for offences alleged to have taken place outside of Ireland.