Ireland Case No. 0891Money laundering, theft, social welfare fraud · Co. Louth
Mother and daughter jailed for money laundering in Drogheda
Six women were charged with money laundering and other offences allegedly linked to the Boylan organised crime group in Drogheda, Co Louth. Bernadette Thornton, 44, and her daughter Alisha Thornton, 21, both of Moneymore, admitted laundering over €500,000 through AIB and Revolut accounts between 2020 and 2022. The four other women, Amy Murphy, 25, Shannon Boylan, 23, Patricia Connor, 42, and Hannah O'Connor, 26, were sent forward for trial at Dundalk Circuit Court. On 3 June 2026, the judge sentenced Bernadette and Alisha Thornton to a headline term of three years and three months, suspending the final 21 months, resulting in 18 months in prison.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged10 Mar
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Six women were charged with money laundering and other offences allegedly linked to the Boylan organised crime group in Drogheda.
- Bernadette Thornton admitted laundering €282,477 and Alisha Thornton admitted laundering €213,018 through AIB and Revolut accounts between 2020 and 2022, totalling €513,495.
- The crime group is allegedly headed by two brothers involved in the sale of drugs in the Drogheda area.
- Where
- The defendants live in Moneymore, Drogheda, and Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
- Investigation
- The pair were under investigation as a result of an investigation into the Drogheda-based Boylan Organised Crime Group.
- Charges
- Amy Murphy is charged with money laundering, unlawful possession of drugs, possession with intent to supply, theft, and social welfare fraud.
- Shannon Boylan is charged with enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to launder money, money laundering via AIB and Revolut accounts, and importation of drugs.
- Patricia Connor is charged with two counts of money laundering.
- Hannah O'Connor is charged with money laundering, breaching the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, and theft of €49,000 in Social Welfare payments.
- In court
- The six women appeared before Drogheda District Court on 10 March 2025 and were sent forward to Dundalk Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- The judge sentenced Bernadette and Alisha Thornton to a headline term of three years and three months, suspending the final 21 months, resulting in 18 months in prison.
- Other details
- The judge described it as a serious offence of prolonged money laundering over 22 months with members living abroad beyond the reach of gardaí.
35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSix women were charged with money laundering offences and other offences allegedly linked to organised crime in Drogheda (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBernadette Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering totalling €282,477 between March 2020 and December 2022 in an AIB account and a Revolut account. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAlisha Thornton admitted two counts of money laundering totalling €213,018 between January 2021 and December 2022 in an AIB account and a Revolut account. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total amount of proceeds of crime laundered was €513,495. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEight transfers by associates of the OCG to Alisha's AIB account totalling €8,057 brought the total criminal conduct into the account to €40,482. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total amount laundered through Bernadette's AIB account was €79,999. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA further €151,019 was laundered through Bernadette's Revolut account. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Revolut account showed €75,466 going in between June 5, 2021 and October 28, 2022 with withdrawals made in Dubai, Ukraine, Turkey and Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe mother and daughter have no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe crime group is allegedly headed by two brothers involved in the sale of drugs in the Drogheda area. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBernadette is a health care worker. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereAmy Murphy lives at Martello Close, Balbriggan, Co Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShannon Boylan lives in Moneymore, Drogheda (irishmirror.ie)
- wherePatricia Connor lives in Moneymore (irishmirror.ie)
- whereAlisha Thornton lives in Moneymore, Drogheda (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe pair were under investigation as a result of an investigation into the Drogheda-based Boylan Organised Crime Group. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAmy Murphy is charged with three counts of money laundering under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act) between February 2020 and November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAmy Murphy is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAmy Murphy is charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply under Section 15 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAmy Murphy is charged with counts of theft and social welfare fraud (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShannon Boylan is charged with two counts of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to launder money between 5 May 2021 and 28 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShannon Boylan is charged with two counts of money laundering via an AIB account between 25 November 2020 and 16 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShannon Boylan is charged with money laundering via a Revolut account between 5 May 2020 and 16 January 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShannon Boylan is charged with importation of drugs in excess of €13,000 between 29 October 2022 and 28 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargePatricia Connor is charged with two counts of money laundering between October 2022 and June 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHannah O'Connor is charged with two counts of money laundering between 22 March 2019 and 24 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHannah O'Connor is charged with money laundering on dates between 15 June 2020 and 5 December 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHannah O'Connor is charged with breaching Section 251(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHannah O'Connor is charged with theft of Social Welfare payments amounting to €49,000 from the Minister of Social Protection (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe six women appeared before Drogheda District Court on Monday 10 March 2025 and were served with books of evidence (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThey were formally sent forward to Dundalk Circuit Court to face trial by judge and jury later in the year (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge handed down a headline sentence of three years and three months to each, suspending the final 21 months, resulting in 18 months behind bars. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDet Garda McManus said the offending was more out of family loyalty than fear. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge described it as a serious offence of prolonged money laundering over 22 months with members living abroad beyond the reach of gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jun2026Drogheda mum and daughter jailed for laundering €500,000 for crime gang
Reports the sentencing of Bernadette and Alisha Thornton to 18 months (headline three years and three months, final 21 months suspended) for laundering proceeds of crime through AIB and Revolut accounts for the Boylan OCG, with Alisha also convicted of carer's allowance fraud.
convicted, Bernadette Thornton, 44, female, named, irish (judged from name)Bernadette Thorntonconvicted, Alisha Thornton, 21, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alisha Thornton - 10 Mar2025Six women charged with offences allegedly linked to organised crime
Details the specific charges against each of the six women, their addresses, the court proceedings at Drogheda District Court, and their remand on continuing bail to appear at Dundalk Circuit Court on 1 April 2025.
accused, Amy Murphy, 25, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Murphyaccused, Shannon Boylan, 23, female, named, irish (judged from name)Shannon Boylanaccused, Patricia Connor, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Patricia Connoraccused, 26, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Alisha Thornton, 21, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alisha Thorntonaccused, Bernadette Thornton, 44, female, named, irish (judged from name)Bernadette Thornton