Three women admit money laundering for Louth organised crime group

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• Posted by Peter Oakes

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.

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”.

Some insight has been given to the operation of one of the gangs involved in the Drogheda Drugs Feud during a sentence hearing for three women who pleaded guilty to money laundering.

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27, 2021, €16,348 went into Marlena Aleksandrowicz’s Revolut account from associates of the OCG and €14,950 was withdrawn.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.
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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.

Source: ​https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/news/three-women-admit-money-laundering-for-louth-organised-crime-group/a1495082571.html