Ireland Case No. 4970Money laundering · Co. Louth
Eight charged over alleged money laundering in Co Louth Operation Stratus investigation
Operation Stratus, a Garda investigation into alleged organised criminal activity in Co Louth, led to eight people being charged with money laundering offences, with each accused alleged to have used the Revolut app. The main accused, Michaela Fitzpatrick, 32, faces nine charges, including three of money laundering, with the money laundering offences alleged between October 23, 2023, and January 19, 2024. The eight accused appeared at Drogheda District Court on a Monday, reported on October 14, 2024, where Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody and the other seven were remanded on continuing bail to November 25. The latest development is that Fitzpatrick is due to appear again before Drogheda District Court on October 21, 2024, by video link.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged14 Oct
- In court14 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Operation Stratus is a Garda operation targeting organised criminal activity in Co Louth, set up to tackle feuding gangs in Drogheda.
- Eight people, seven women and a man, have been charged with money laundering offences.
- Each accused is alleged to have used the Revolut payment app for the money laundering offences.
- Charges
- One report says all eight face money laundering charges, while another says seven face money laundering charges and an eighth faces organised crime offences.
- Fitzpatrick faces nine charges in total, including three of money laundering, and charges of participating in or facilitating organised crime, drug importation, possession and intent to supply.
- The organised crime and drug charges against Fitzpatrick are dated January 24, 2021, and the drugs are alleged to be valued at over €13,000.
- Luke Lawless, 30, is charged with two counts of money laundering between September 2021 and March 31, 2022, via Revolut and a PTSB account; reports give September 3 or September 9 as the start date.
- Leah Smith, Annie Smith, Amy Rooney, Niamh McManus, Marlena Aleksandrowicz and Jade Heeney each face one count of money laundering via Revolut, with periods between June 2020 and February 2022.
- When
- Fitzpatrick's money laundering offences are alleged to have been committed between October 23, 2023, and January 19, 2024.
- Other details
- Fitzpatrick is alleged to have used accounts with PTSB, AIB and Revolut for the transactions.
- Reports differ on the ages of some accused: Amy Rooney is 29 or 30, Niamh McManus is 37 or 38, and Jade Heeney is 26 or 36.
- The Irish Times spells the first name Micheala, while other reports spell it Michaela.
- In court
- Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody because the district court had no jurisdiction to grant bail on the organised crime charge.
- The other seven accused were remanded on continuing bail to appear before Drogheda District Court on November 25.
- Fitzpatrick is due to appear again before Drogheda District Court on October 21, 2024, by video link.
- The case is to go to trial by judge and jury in the circuit court, and Judge Stephanie Coggans could not grant legal aid to Rooney because she did not appear due to an appointment.
40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatOperation Stratus targets organised criminal activity in Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEach accused is alleged to have used the Revolut payment app for the money laundering offences. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLuke Lawless is a father-of-four (irishmirror.ie)
- whenFitzpatrick's money laundering offences are alleged to have been committed between October 23, 2023, and January 19, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeEight people, seven women and a man, have been charged with money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMicheala Fitzpatrick faced nine charges in total, including three of money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with participating in or facilitating organised crime on January 24, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with importing drugs valued at over €13,000 with intent to supply on January 24, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLuke Lawless was charged with two counts of money laundering between September 3, 2021, and March 31, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLeah Smith was charged with one count of money laundering between July 7, 2020, and January 23, 2021, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAnnie Smith faces one charge of money laundering between June 17, 2020, and June 3, 2021, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAmy Rooney is charged with one count of money laundering between June 9, 2020, and February 23, 2021, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNiamh McManus faces one count of money laundering between February 2, 2021, and February 7, 2022, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMarlena Aleksandrowicz is charged with a single count of money laundering between July 10, 2020, and February 27, 2021, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeJade Heeney faces one charge of money laundering between December 20, 2020, and January 31, 2021, via Revolut. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSeven people were charged with money laundering offences (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAn eighth person was charged with organised crime offences in Drogheda (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with participating/facilitating organised crime contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act on January 24 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with importation of drugs in excess of €13k (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with intent to supply drugs (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with unlawful possession of drugs in excess of €13k (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with possession of a mobile phone on January 24 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick is charged with three counts of money laundering between October 23, 2023 and January 19, 2024 via PTSB, AIB and Revolut Account (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeLuke Lawless (30) is charged with two counts of money laundering between September 9, 2021 and March 31, 2022 via Revolut and PTSB Account (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNiamh McManus (38) is charged with one count of money laundering via Revolut Account between February 6, 2021 and February 7, 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJade Heeney (36) is charged with one count of money laundering via Revolut Account between December 20, 2020 and January 31, 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMarlena Aleksandrowicz (28) is charged with one count of money laundering between July 10, 2020 and February 27, 2021 via Revolut Account (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeLeah Smith (26) is charged with one count of money laundering between July 7, 2020 and January 23, 2021 via Revolut Account (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAmy Rooney (29) is charged with one count of money laundering between June 9, 2020 and February 23, 2021 via Revolut Account (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAnnie Smith (28) is charged with one count of money laundering between June 17, 2020 and June 3, 2021 via Revolut Account (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared at Drogheda District Court on a Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFitzpatrick was remanded in custody because the court lacked jurisdiction to grant bail on the organised crime charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFitzpatrick is due to appear again before Drogheda District Court on October 21, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe seven other accused were remanded on bail to appear again before the same court on November 25. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSeven were remanded on continuing bail to appear before Drogheda District Court on November 25 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMichaela Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFitzpatrick was remanded in custody to appear again on Monday, October 21 via video link (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Stephanie Coggans could not grant legal aid to Rooney as she did not appear due to an appointment (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFitzpatrick is alleged to have used accounts with PTSB, AIB and Revolut for the transactions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOperation Stratus was set up by gardaí to tackle feuding gangs in Drogheda. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Oct2024Seven charged over alleged money laundering offences
Details of all eight accused, their specific charges, addresses, bail/custody status, and the DPP's direction for trial on indictment in the circuit court.
accused, Michaela Fitzpatrick, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michaela Fitzpatrickaccused, Luke Lawless, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Luke Lawlessaccused, Niamh McManus, 38, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh McManusaccused, Jade Heeney, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Jade Heeneyaccused, Marlena Aleksandrowicz, 28, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marlena Aleksandrowiczaccused, Leah Smith, 26, female, namedLeah Smithaccused, Amy Rooney, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Rooneyaccused, Annie Smith, 28, female, namedAnnie Smith - 14 Oct2024Eight charged with alleged money laundering after Co Louth ‘gang activity’ investigation
Reports the first court appearance of eight people charged in Operation Stratus, with each defendant's charges and dates, and the remand arrangements.
accused, Micheala Fitzpatrick, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Micheala Fitzpatrickaccused, Luke Lawless, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Luke Lawlessaccused, Leah Smith, 26, named, irish (judged from name)Leah Smithaccused, Annie Smith, 28, named, irish (judged from name)Annie Smithaccused, Amy Rooney, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Rooneyaccused, Niamh McManus, 37, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh McManusaccused, Marlena Aleksandrowicz, namedMarlena Aleksandrowiczaccused, Jade Heeney, 26, named, irish (judged from name)Jade Heeney