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 €500,000 on behalf of the crime group . Bernadette Thornton (44) and her daughter Alisha (21), both of Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth were under investigation as a result of an investigation into the Drogheda-based Boylan Organised Crime Group. The mother and daughter have no previous convictions, Dundalk Circuit Court heard. The crime
group, the court heard previously, is allegedly headed by two brothers involved in the sale of drugs in the Drogheda area . Keith Boylan (30) of Moneymore in Drogheda was named by a garda witness in a money laundering case last year in Dundalk Circuit Court as ‘the leader of the organised crime group,’ while his brother Josh (26) was named as the group’s ‘second in command.’ A third member, Craig Coyle (26), was also previously named in court by a garda witness as a
member of that crime group. 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. Bernadette Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering on dates between March 2020 and December 2022 totalling €282,477 in an AIB account and a Revolut Account. Alisha Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering totalling €213,018 on dates between January 2021 and December 2022 in an AIB account and a Revolut
account . She also pleaded guilty to theft and social welfare fraud of carer’s allowance of €11,840 from October 2022 and May 2023. The total amount of the proceeds of crime laundered was €513,495. 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’s activities. Det Gda McManus said an AIB account in Alisha’s
name showed 48 lodgements totalling €32,425 from January 2021 to November 2022. Eight transfers were made by associates of the OCG to the AIB account totalling €8,057 bringing the total amount of criminal conduct into the account to €40,482. A total of 54 transfers amounting to €19,837 were made to Bernadette’s bank account. The total amount laundered through her AIB account was €79,999, the court heard. While a further €151,019 was laundered through her Revolut account, the court heard. Det Gda McManus said this account
showed €75,466 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 €75,553. In relation to the social welfare theft, in May 2022 Alisha made a false statement to claim for Carer’s Allowance and a total of €11,840 was paid to her over a seven month period. This money is now being recuperated on a regular basis, the court heard. When arrested Alisha said she “didn’t wish
to give an account” of the offending but said she “didn’t profit from it.” “It left me fearful for my safety and family,” she told gardai . Det Gda McManus told the court Alisha is “a cousin to a senior figure of the Boylan Organised Crime Group.” In relation to the investigation into Bernadette’s AIB and Revolut bank accounts, Det Gda McManus said €138,883 went in and out of the AIB account while €143,594 went in and out of the Revolut account. This money, he
said, was the proceeds of criminal conduct. When arrested, Bernadette, whom Det Gda McManus said “is a sister of a close associate of the Boylan Organised Crime Group and an aunt of a prominent member of the group,” told gardai “I’m afraid, I’m afraid for Alisha. I’ve been living in fear since 2018.” Bernadette, who is a health care worker , also told gardai her now ex-partner was violent and “he drank all my money and smoked all my money.” She said she didn’t profit
or benefit from laundering the money. When defence counsel said Bernadette committed the offence as “lived in fear,” Det Gda McManus said “Maybe, given the location she lives in, but it was more out of family loyalty than fear.” In a letter of apology read out in court, Bernadette said she “takes full responsibility for her actions,” and is sincere in her heartfelt apology. “I deeply regret being allowed to be pressured into it and I’ve had time to reflect on my actions,” she wrote.
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’s cousin. The judge also noted Alisha told the Probation Services that she was “assisting a criminal hiding in another country” as she didn’t want him sleeping on the streets. “This 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,” the judge said. 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. Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here .
Drogheda, Bernadette Thornton, Alisha Thornton, Boylan Organised Crime Group, money laundering, AIB account, Revolut account, carer's allowance fraud, Dundalk Circuit Court