This is the brother of alleged ISIS bride Lisa Smith as he arrived at a court sitting where he faces charges of assaulting a garda and threatening to damage her home.
Padraig Smith, 36, was arrested on December 15 last year for the alleged attack on the officer in which it is alleged she suffered a broken nose and serious injuries to her eye socket.
It’s understood the garda stopped Smith for allegedly driving while using a mobile phone at The Ramparts in Dundalk, Co Louth, at around 5.45pm.
He was arrested and charged with assaulting the female garda causing her harm.
The accused, who has an address at Mountain Court, Point View in Dundalk, is also charged with failing to comply with garda direction and using threatening and abusive behaviour on the same date.
He is further charged with obstructing the female garda and making a threat to damage her home on the same date.
Smith appeared before Judge Eirinn McKiernan at Dundalk District Court where directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were received by the State.
Sgt Jimmy McGovern told the judge the DPP has directed summary disposal of the charges on a guilty plea only.
This means if the accused wishes to enter a guilty plea to the charges, his case can remain at district court level – where the penalties imposed are less than those imposed at circuit court level. On summary conviction in the district court of assault causing harm, a person found guilty or admits the offence can be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months and/or a fine not exceeding €1,500.
Defence solicitor Eleanor Kelly told the court she has received some disclosure but understands that there may be CCTV and dash cam footage available.
Judge McKiernan granted a further disclosure order to Ms Kelly and extended the accused’s bail to cover the new charges.
Dressed in a green and navy hoodie, a navy jacket and blue jeans, the accused did not address the court during the short hearing. After briefly speaking with his solicitor outside the courthouse, Smith left the area on a bicycle. His sister, alleged ISIS bride Lisa Smith, had no involvement in the alleged assault on the member of An Garda Siochana.
The former Irish Defence Forces soldier has been charged with membership of the Islamic State terrorist group and with financing terrorism.
The 39-year-old from Dundalk will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in January 2022. She is denying the charges against her.
