Local media comments had sparked Garda concerns for Lisa Smith's safety in Ireland

The court also heard of voice messages and texts she sent to her family while she was being held in the Ain Issa camp in Syria in mid-2019

Detective Garda James Kilgannon said Lisa Smith (pictured) has been accepted by the community in the housing estate where she lives. Photo: Collins Courts

When Lisa Smith arrived back in Ireland from Syria in 2019 gardaí had concerns for her safety due to comments on local media suggesting the Islamic convert "shouldn't be back in the country," the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Detective Garda James Kilgannon on Tuesday told Justin McQuade BL, for Ms Smith, that part of his duty when Ms Smith began living with her mother in Dundalk, Co. Louth, was to make sure she was safe. There were concerns, he said, because of comments on local news websites.