Lisa Smith watched video of Islamic State drowning men in cage before going to Syria

After watching the video, Ms Smith posted a message to a WhatsApp group saying: 'Now I understand why they were drowned. I didn't know the other half of the story,' the Special Criminal Court has heard

Lisa Smith described the killings as 'barbaric' and 'savage' and said the video made her feel 'disgusted. Picture: Collins Courts

Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who denies membership of Islamic State, watched a video of men being drowned in a cage by Isis and posted a message to a WhatsApp group saying: "Now I understand why they were drowned. I didn't know the other half of the story," the Special Criminal Court has heard.

In Garda interviews, Ms Smith said she was saying she understood why they were drowned but not that she agreed with the drownings. She described the killings as "barbaric" and "savage" and said the video made her feel "disgusted".