Dean Thornton and Gary Kelly sentenced for facilitating Boylan OCG in Drogheda
Dean Thornton, 28, and Gary Kelly, 31, both of Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, operated a sub-cell of the Boylan Organised Crime Group called 'Poundland' that sold cocaine and cannabis through online platforms and social media from July 2023 to September 2024. Thornton, described as the director of the sub-cell, was arrested on 21 January 2025 and made admissions, while Kelly made no comment; both went into custody on 23 January 2025. On 19 June 2026, Judge Dara Hayes at Dundalk Circuit Court sentenced Thornton to eight years and nine months with the final 15 months suspended for facilitating the OCG and money laundering, and Kelly to eight years with the final 15 months suspended for drug dealing and money laundering, both backdated to 23 January 2025. Days after sentencing, Thornton released a new rap track called 'Live Sleep Dream', with further releases planned.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jun
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Dean Thornton, 28, and Gary Kelly, 31, both of Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, operated a sub-cell of the Boylan OCG called 'Poundland' that sold cocaine and cannabis through Instagram, Telegram and social media from July 2023 to September 2024.
- Where
- The pair had addresses at Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, and were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court.
- When
- Thornton was arrested on 21 January 2025, both went into custody on 23 January 2025, and they were sentenced on 19 June 2026.
- Investigation
- Five mobile phone numbers linked to the Poundland online shop were traced back to Thornton and Kelly, and the Garda National Undercover Unit became involved after the drugs unit had difficulty dismantling the organisation.
- Charges
- Thornton was charged with facilitating the Boylan OCG and money laundering, and Kelly was charged with drug dealing offences and money laundering.
- In court
- The pair were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court by Judge Dara Hayes.
- Sentence
- Thornton was sentenced to eight years and nine months with the final 15 months suspended, and Kelly to eight years with the final 15 months suspended, both backdated to 23 January 2025.
- Other details
- The Boylan OCG is headed by brothers Keith and Josh Boylan from Moneymore and played a significant role in drug distribution in the Louth/Meath area and serious violence and feuding in Drogheda.
- Thornton, described as 'director of the sub-cell' with 18 previous convictions, made admissions at arrest; Kelly, described as 'a puppet following directions, but a vital cog in the operation' with 88 previous convictions, made no comment.
- Thornton released a new rap track called 'Live Sleep Dream' days after sentencing, with further releases including a track called 'Cold Nights' planned.
42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDean Thornton, 28, of Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, was jailed for facilitating the Boylan OCG and money laundering from July 2023 to September 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGary Kelly, 31, of Moneymore in Drogheda, was jailed for drug dealing offences and money laundering for the same crime group. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Boylan OCG is headed by two brothers, Keith and Josh Boylan, from Moneymore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn several occasions Kelly and workers for Poundland sold cocaine and cannabis to undercover gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThornton told gardaí he stepped away to focus on his daughter and regrets his involvement. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThornton is a dad-of-one who has been involved in drug dealing since his teenage years and intends to pursue a career in rapping. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe judge said the pair were prominent members of the crime group and played a significant role in serious violence and feuding in Drogheda. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThornton and Kelly both had addresses at Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- whereBoth had addresses at Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFive mobile phone numbers were linked to the Poundland online shop and then linked back to Thornton and Kelly. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMembers of the Garda National Undercover Unit became involved after the drugs unit had difficulty dismantling the organisation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThornton received three P19 prison disciplinary reports during his first two months in custody (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNo criminal charges were brought arising from the phone and cannabis discoveries (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe pair were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court by Judge Dara Hayes. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThornton was sentenced to eight years and nine months with the final 15 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceKelly was sentenced to eight years with the final 15 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences were backdated to 23 January 2025 when both defendants went into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Hayes sentenced Thornton to eight years and nine months with the final 15 months suspended (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThornton's supporters indicated further rap music releases are planned (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA previous rap by Thornton was released while he was in custody (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThere was no evidence the previous rap had been recorded inside prison (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOn 19 February 2025, a smartphone was discovered in a shared cell during a search (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOn 11 March, two smartphones and 22 grams of cannabis were seized from a shared cell (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOn 22 March, a further smartphone and 12 grams of cannabis were recovered from another shared cell (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn total, four smartphones and 34 grams of cannabis were recovered during the three searches (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherThey operated a sub-cell of the Boylan OCG known as 'Poundland' which sold drugs through online platforms and social media (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThornton released a new rap track called 'Live Sleep Dream' on Tuesday afternoon (dublinlive.ie)
- otherFurther rap releases are planned including a track called 'Cold Nights' (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThey operated a sub-cell of the Boylan OCG known as 'Poundland' that sold drugs through online platforms and social media (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThornton was described as 'director of the sub-cell' of the Boylan OCG (dublinlive.ie)
- otherKelly was described as 'a puppet following directions, but a vital cog in the operation' (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThornton has 18 previous convictions (dublinlive.ie)
- otherKelly has 88 previous convictions (dublinlive.ie)
- otherAMF in Thornton's rap name refers to 'Anti-Maguire faction' (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe Poundland logo appeared in Thornton's rap video 'Real Street Kids' (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThornton entered custody in 2025 and received three prison disciplinary reports in his first two months (dublinlive.ie)
- otherOn 19 February 2025 a smartphone was found in a shared cell (dublinlive.ie)
- otherOn 11 March 2025 two smartphones and 22 grams of cannabis were seized from a shared cell (dublinlive.ie)
- otherOn 22 March 2025 a further smartphone and 12 grams of cannabis were recovered (dublinlive.ie)
- otherNo criminal charges were brought for the seized phones or drugs as ownership was not established (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe OCG played a significant role in drug distribution in the Louth/Meath area (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe OCG was involved in serious violence and feuding (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Jun2026New track dropped by jailed rapper Dean Thornton days after sentencing
Reports on Thornton's new rap track 'Live Sleep Dream' released days after sentencing, and provides details from the sentencing hearing including three prison disciplinary reports, the role of the Poundland sub-cell, and the OCG's involvement in the Drogheda drugs feud.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 24 Jun2026Jailed rapper Dean Thornton drops new track days after sentencing
Adds details about Thornton's new rap track, three P19 prison disciplinary reports for phones and cannabis in shared cells (Feb–Mar 2025), his role as 'director of the sub-cell' with 18 previous convictions, Kelly's 88 previous convictions, the Poundland logo in his rap video 'Real Street Kids', AMF meaning 'Anti-Maguire faction', and Judge Hayes' sentencing remarks about the OCG's role in drug distribution in the Louth/Meath area.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 19 Jun2026Emerging rapper jailed over 'online drugs supermarket' linked to Drogheda gang
Extensive detail on the Poundland operation: it was run on Instagram and Telegram, Thornton was described as 'director of the sub-cell' managing finances, Kelly conducted drug deals and provided payment details. The Poundland logo appeared in Thornton's rap video 'Real Street Kids' as a marketing tool. Drugs originated from California via the airport. The OCG is headed by brothers Keith and Josh Boylan. Thornton was arrested 21 January 2025 and made admissions; Kelly made no comment. Sentences backdated to 23 January 2025.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly