{"id":481635,"date":"2026-06-03T22:23:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T22:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/481635\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T22:23:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T22:23:14","slug":"drogheda-mum-and-daughter-jailed-for-laundering-e500000-for-crime-gang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/481635\/","title":{"rendered":"Drogheda mum and daughter jailed for laundering \u20ac500,000 for crime gang"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mother and daughter from Drogheda have been jailed for 18 months after admitting laundering more than \u20ac500,000 on behalf of the Boylan organised crime group.\"Bernadette<\/p>\n

Bernadette Thornton (44, L) and her daughter Alisha (21, R)<\/p>\n

An aunt and cousin of emerging rap artist Dean Thornton, who is a senior member of the Boylan Organised Crime Group, have been jailed for 18 months after they admitted laundering over \u20ac500,000 on behalf of the crime group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bernadette Thornton (44) and her daughter Alisha (21), both of Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth <\/a>were under investigation as a result of an investigation into the Drogheda-based Boylan Organised Crime Group.<\/p>\n

The mother and daughter have no previous convictions, Dundalk Circuit Court <\/a>heard.<\/p>\n

The crime group, the court heard previously, is allegedly headed by two brothers involved in the sale of drugs in the Drogheda area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Keith Boylan (30) of Moneymore in Drogheda was named by a garda witness <\/a>in a money laundering case last year in Dundalk Circuit Court as \u2018the leader of the organised crime group,\u2019 while his brother Josh (26) was named as the group\u2019s \u2018second in command.\u2019<\/p>\n

A third member, Craig Coyle (26), was also previously named in court <\/a>by a garda witness as a member of that crime group.<\/p>\n

Emerging rap artist Dean Thornton operated a drug-dealing sub-cell for the Boylan OCG and is to be sentenced later after admitting money laundering and organised crime offences last month.<\/p>\n

Bernadette Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering on dates between March 2020 and December 2022 totalling \u20ac282,477 in an AIB account <\/a>and a Revolut Account.<\/p>\n

Alisha Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering totalling \u20ac213,018 on dates between January 2021 and December 2022 in an AIB account and a Revolut account<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Alisha Thornton <\/p>\n

She also pleaded guilty to theft and social welfare fraud<\/a> of carer\u2019s allowance of \u20ac11,840 from October 2022 and May 2023.<\/p>\n

The total amount of the proceeds of crime laundered was \u20ac513,495.<\/p>\n

Detective Garda Niall McManus told prosecuting counsel Stephen Dixon that as part of an ongoing investigation into the Boylan Organised Crime Group, material on bank accounts relating to both Bernadette and Alisha were obtained for a financial investigation into the group\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n

Det Gda McManus said an AIB account in Alisha\u2019s name showed 48 lodgements totalling \u20ac32,425 from January 2021 to November 2022.<\/p>\n

Eight transfers were made by associates of the OCG to the AIB account totalling \u20ac8,057 bringing the total amount of criminal conduct into the account to \u20ac40,482. A total of 54 transfers amounting to \u20ac19,837 were made to Bernadette\u2019s bank account.<\/p>\n

\"Bernadette<\/p>\n

Bernadette Thornton, 44<\/p>\n

The total amount laundered through her AIB account was \u20ac79,999, the court heard.<\/p>\n

While a further \u20ac151,019 was laundered through her Revolut account, the court heard.<\/p>\n

Det Gda McManus said this account showed \u20ac75,466 going in between June 5, 2021 and October 28, 2022 with withdrawal made in four different countries – Dubai, Ukraine, Turkey and Ireland. Money going out amounted to \u20ac75,553.<\/p>\n

In relation to the social welfare theft, in May 2022 Alisha made a false statement to claim for Carer\u2019s Allowance and a total of \u20ac11,840 was paid to her over a seven month period. This money is now being recuperated on a regular basis, the court heard.<\/p>\n

When arrested Alisha said she \u201cdidn\u2019t wish to give an account\u201d of the offending but said she \u201cdidn\u2019t profit from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alisha<\/p>\n

Alisha Thornton, 21 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt left me fearful for my safety and family,\u201d she told gardai<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Det Gda McManus told the court Alisha is \u201ca cousin to a senior figure of the Boylan Organised Crime Group.\u201d<\/p>\n

In relation to the investigation into Bernadette\u2019s AIB and Revolut bank accounts,<\/p>\n

Det Gda McManus said \u20ac138,883 went in and out of the AIB account while \u20ac143,594 went in and out of the Revolut account. This money, he said, was the proceeds of criminal conduct.<\/p>\n

When arrested, Bernadette, whom Det Gda McManus said \u201cis a sister of a close associate of the Boylan Organised Crime Group and an aunt of a prominent member of the group,\u201d told gardai \u201cI\u2019m afraid, I\u2019m afraid for Alisha. I\u2019ve been living in fear since 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernadette, who is a health care worker<\/a>, also told gardai her now ex-partner was violent and \u201che drank all my money and smoked all my money.\u201d She said she didn\u2019t profit or benefit from laundering the money.<\/p>\n

When defence counsel said Bernadette committed the offence as \u201clived in fear,\u201d Det Gda McManus said \u201cMaybe, given the location she lives in, but it was more out of family loyalty than fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The pair are an aunt and cousin of emerging rap artist Dean Thornton (centre in grey and blue tracksuit), pictured in a music video filmed on the streets of Drogheda<\/p>\n

In a letter of apology read out in court, Bernadette said she \u201ctakes full responsibility for her actions,\u201d and is sincere in her heartfelt apology.<\/p>\n

\u201cI deeply regret being allowed to be pressured into it and I\u2019ve had time to reflect on my actions,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

In sentencing the pair, Judge Dara Hayes noted there was no evidence the pair were under duress or threat and said the offending was attributed to their close relationship to Alisha\u2019s cousin.<\/p>\n

The judge also noted Alisha told the Probation Services that she was \u201cassisting a criminal hiding in another country\u201d as she didn\u2019t want him sleeping on the streets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a serious offence of prolonged money laundering over 22 months to the benefit of the Boylan Organised Crime Group, with members living abroad beyond the reach of gardai,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n

Handing down a headline sentence to each of three years and three months, the judge suspended the final 21 months, meaning the pair are sentenced to 18 months behind bars.<\/p>\n

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