THE IRISH government reportedly spent more than €5,000 on bringing ISIS bride Lisa Smith back to Ireland.
A former Defence Forces member, Smith converted to Islam in 2016 and travelled to Syria that same year to join the Islamic State.
Following the death of her jihadist husband, Smith and her two-year-old daughter ended up in a detention camp in Syria before escaping to Turkey.
She was brought back to Ireland along with her infant child on December 1 with expense spared in bringing her back to the Emerald Isle.
According to the Sunday Independent, the Department of Foreign Affairs spent more than on helping Smith get home.
These costs included both the travel and accommodation for a team of officials who were tasked with bringing her back as part of a three-day mission.
Granted bail on appeal and the provision she signs in at a Garda station twice a day, every day, Smith stands accused of membership of ISIS.
Banned from accessing the internet or any form of social media, Smith denies the charge and has asked for the case against her to be dropped.
Speaking in an interview with RTE News, held before her rescue, Smith insisted her decision to join the Islamic State was never motivated by “radical beliefs”.
"You can't blame me for what the Islamic State done. I don't hold the same beliefs as them. I came to a caliphate where Islam was supposed to be implemented. I have different beliefs than the majority of people,” Smith said.
"People in the Islamic State come from all over the world. They have different beliefs and different understandings of Islam.
"Since I came here I have seen that no-one has any real understanding of Islam."
