Latest news with #KeithBoylan
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Three women admit money laundering for Louth Organised Crime Group
Annie Julia Smith (28), Jade Heeney (27) and Marlena Aleksandrowicz (29) appeared before Dundalk Circuit Court and were remanded on continuing bail to July 30 for finalisation of the case with a warning from Judge Dara Hayes that there is 'a strong possibility of custodial sentences'. The defendants were described as at the lower scale of a money laundering enterprise for the Boylan Organised Crime Group. None of them profited from it. They had no previous convictions. Keith Boylan was named in court as the alleged head of the Boylan OCG and his brother Josh as the alleged second in command. Jade Heeney is the former partner of Keith Boylan, while Annie Julia Smith is the former partner of Josh Boylan. Gda John Walsh testified that Keith Boylan is 'identified as the head' of the crime group and Josh Boylan 'classed as second in command'. Ms Heeney, Castlemanor, Ballymakenny, Drogheda; Ms Smith, Candy Lodge, Stamullen Road, Gormanston and Marlena Aleksandrowicz, Bridgefield Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 Cedar Place, Swords; each admitted one count of money laundering through their respective Revolut accounts which they allowed the gang to use. Gda Walsh gave evidence that the Boylan OCG was one of two factions in the 'so-called Drogheda Feud'. As part of an investigation into this gang's activities a large amount of bank and other accounts were probed and each of the three accused were identified as money laundering the proceeds on behalf of the OCG. Between July 10, 2020 and February 27, 2021, €16,348 went into Marlena Aleksandrowicz's Revolut account from associates of the OCG and €14,950 was withdrawn. She was a friend of Hannah O'Connor, Keith Boylan's partner, and did this as a favour to her. Following her arrest by arrangement on September 25, 2023, she told Gardaí that she was afraid to say 'no'. "Hannah asked me. I didn't know her boyfriend.' Gda Walsh agreed with defence counsel that Ms Aleksandrowicz was 'out of her depth'. Barrister Donough McDonough, instructed by solicitor James Allen, said that she accepted her actions were reckless. She regretted this which had a toll on her and was a constant source of worry. Born in Poland and an only child, the defendant grew up in Swords. References and a letter of apology were available. Ms Aleksandrowicz and her partner were looking forward to the birth of their child in October. Gda Walsh said that between December 20, 2020 and January 31, 2021, €13,033 was transferred by members of the OCG to Jade Heeney's Revolut account and €12,551.37 withdrawn. For approximately four years she had been the partner of Keith Boylan. The relationship had ended by the time of this offending. She had been given €1,000 to put into the account after being directed to download the app and to hand over the card to a person unknown to her. "I just did it. I wasn't thinking. I didn't see the transactions in or out. I shouldn't have given the card. I was told to,' she told investigators following her arrest on May 26, 2023. Barrister Ronan O'Carroll, instructed by solicitor James Allen, said that Ms Heeney was still suffering from the effects of the relationship which she ended. She was under pressure and duress to do this offending. A fully qualified hair stylist working in Dundalk, she too wrote a letter of apology and had references. The court heard that between June 17, 2020 and June 3, 2021, associates of the OCG put €8,967.50 into Annie Julia Smith's Revolut account and withdrew €5,080. She was the former partner of Josh Boylan between 2018 and December 2020. The relationship ended on bad terms. Ms Smith was arrested on September 6, 2023 by arrangement. Barrister Stephen Faulkner, instructed by solicitor Eleanor Kelly, said that she outlined in a letter her shame and embarrassment. Her offending couldn't be excused but she was afraid to refuse. Judge Hayes said that the three defendants were at the 'lowest rung' but it was to the benefit of a serious criminal organisation which required the assistance of people to launder their unlawful gains. There was a strong possibility of custodial sentences, the judge continued. He was not saying that will be the outcome. He would consider the submissions. It was a 'finely balanced case'. The matter was adjourned to July 30.
RTÉ News
18-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Brothers named in court as alleged leaders of Drogheda crime group
Two brothers have for the first time been named in court as the alleged leaders of one faction of the Drogheda feud. Keith Boylan, aged 30 and of Moneymore in Drogheda, was named as the leader of the Boylan organised crime group. His 26-year-old brother, Josh, was also named by a garda witness in court today as the group's second-in-command. The Drogheda feud, which erupted in 2018, claimed the lives of four people, including that of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods. Garda John Walsh of Drogheda Garda Station named both brothers during a sentence hearing for three women who have pleaded guilty to money laundering offences for the organised crime group. Marlena Aleksandrowicz, 29, from Bridgefield in Northwood, Santry, Dublin; Jade Heeney, 27, from the Hill of Rath in Drogheda; and Annie Smith, 28, of The Alders, Avourwen in Drogheda have all pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. Garda Walsh told Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court today that the Boylan organised crime group was involved in the large-scale importation of drugs for sale or sale. He said the women had allowed their bank accounts or Revolut accounts or both to be used to facilitate payments to or from the organised crime group. All of the offences took place between 2020 and 2021. The court was told that each of the women had connections to the Boylans. Ms Heeney was in a relationship with Keith Boylan for four years while Ms Smith is a former partner of Josh. Ms Aleksandrowicz was a friend of Keith's girlfriend. In mitigation, each of the defence barristers said their clients had fully co-operated with the garda investigation and entered early guilty pleas. Ronan O'Carroll BL for Ms Heeney told the court that Keith Boylan was "not someone you could say no to" and the relationship his client had with him was abusive and controlling. The barristers said while their clients accepted responsibility for their actions, they had been placed under a certain amount of duress to allow their bank accounts be used to facilitate the proceeds of crime. Judge Dara Hayes said these were very serious charges before the court and there was a strong possibility that each of the women could be spending time in prison. However, the judge said he would need time to consider the matter as it was "finely balanced". Judge Hayes then adjourned sentencing to 30 July.
