The former Irish soldier was described as a 'very vulnerable and damaged person' at a sentencing hearing
A former Irish Defence Forces soldier who was found guilty of Islamic State membership was described as "a very vulnerable and damaged person" at a sentencing hearing on Monday.
Smith had converted to Islam, travelled to Syria after terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Muslims to join the Islamic State.The Special Criminal Court was told that Smith was dependent, docile, self-effacing and suffering mental health issues as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.RTÉ reports.
Referring to three psychologists' reports, he said "on a scale of grimness of one to five" Smith's childhood and family background was "four".He said she joined the Irish Army at 19 years of age for security and because she needed money.However, she lost her religion and was looking for answers when she converted to Islam, Mr O'Higgins said, although in her quest for knowledge she "did not fully appreciate that her mentor's views were not the norm".
He said she was grabbed by the hair, dragged across the room by the hair and her husband, who has since died, would make her eat as "punishment" but also deprive her of food.
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