Ireland Case No. 4970Money laundering · Co. Louth
Rooney sentenced for money laundering in Drogheda
Eight people, seven women and a man, were charged in October 2024 with drugs and money laundering offences in relation to the Drogheda feud, with each accused allegedly using the Revolut payment app for transactions between 2020 and 2022. woman Michaela Fitzpatrick, 33, of Drogheda, pleaded guilty to facilitating organised crime and drug possession and was sentenced in January 2026 to three and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court, with the final 18 months suspended. woman Amy Rooney, 31, of Drogheda, pleaded guilty to one money laundering offence involving more than €34,000 and was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended, at Dundalk Circuit Court in May 2026. The remaining accused were remanded on bail to appear at Drogheda District Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged14 Oct
2 reports - In court14 Oct
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Jan
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Eight people, seven women and a man, were charged with drugs and money laundering offences in relation to the Drogheda feud under Operation Stratus.
- Each accused is alleged to have used the Revolut payment app for the money laundering offences.
- Fitzpatrick took delivery of a package from Thailand containing just under 2 kilos of cannabis with an estimated value of just under €40,000.
- Where
- The money laundering was for an organised crime group in Drogheda, Co Louth.
- When
- The offences date from 2020 to 2022, with Fitzpatrick's money laundering offences alleged between October 2023 and January 2024.
- Investigation
- Garda John Walsh of the Drogheda Drugs Unit gave evidence of arresting Michaela Fitzpatrick, and gardaí made inquiries about three bank accounts linked to her.
- Charges
- Fitzpatrick faced nine charges including three counts of money laundering, facilitating organised crime under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and drug importation, possession and supply offences.
- Luke Lawless was charged with two counts of money laundering, and Leah Smith, Amy Rooney, Niamh McManus, Marlena Aleksandrowicz, Jade Heeney and Annie Smith were each charged with one count of money laundering.
- In court
- Seven of the accused appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggans at Drogheda District Court in October 2024; Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody and the others on bail.
- Sentence
- Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January 2026 at Dundalk Circuit Court to three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended.
- Rooney pleaded guilty to one money laundering offence involving more than €34,000 and was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended, at Dundalk Circuit Court in May 2026.
- Other details
- The prosecution arose from an ongoing garda investigation into the funding of the Boylan organised crime group in the Drogheda area.
72 statements extracted from the articles
- whatEight people have been charged with drugs and money laundering offences in relation to the Drogheda feud. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- whatFitzpatrick took delivery of a package from Thailand containing cannabis. (rte.ie)
- whatThe package contained just under 2 kilos of cannabis worth an estimated just under €40,000. (rte.ie)
- what€43,000 was put into the accounts and €36,000 was taken out, mostly in Thailand. (rte.ie)
- what€17,243 was lodged into Rooney's Revolut account. (rte.ie)
- whereThe laundering was for an organised crime group in Drogheda. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences date from 2020 to 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenFitzpatrick's money laundering offences are alleged to have been committed between October 23, 2023, and January 19, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenA controlled delivery was carried out in January 2024. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offending happened over eight months between 2020 and 2021. (rte.ie)
- investigationGarda John Walsh of the Drogheda Drugs Unit gave evidence of arresting Michaela Fitzpatrick. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí made inquiries about three bank accounts linked to Fitzpatrick. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí said Rooney laundered money at the direction of the organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- chargeMichaela Fitzpatrick was charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which relates to the facilitation of organised crime. (rte.ie)
- chargeMichaela Fitzpatrick was also accused of a number of drugs-related offences. (rte.ie)
- chargeLuke Lawless was charged with two money laundering offences. (rte.ie)
- chargeLeah Smith, Amy Rooney and Niamh McManus were each charged with one money laundering offence. (rte.ie)
- chargeMarlena Aleksandrowicz, Jade Heeney and Annie Smith were each charged with one count of money laundering. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- chargeFitzpatrick had pleaded guilty to participating in or facilitating organised crime. (rte.ie)
- chargeFurther drug and money laundering charges were taken into account. (rte.ie)
- chargeRooney pleaded guilty last October to one money laundering offence relating to more than €34,000. (rte.ie)
- courtSeven of the accused appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggans at Drogheda District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtOne of the accused did not appear in court but has been charged. (rte.ie)
- courtMichaela Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody to appear again at Drogheda District Court the following week. (rte.ie)
- courtAll seven of the accused were remanded on bail to appear again on 25 November. (rte.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)
- courtFitzpatrick was jailed for two years at Dundalk Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place before Dundalk Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Hayes imposed a three-and-a-half year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceRooney was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended. (rte.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)
- otherJudge Hayes took account of mitigating factors including an early plea and a letter of remorse. (rte.ie)
- otherRooney was in fear of her then partner, who was a member of the crime group. (rte.ie)
- otherRooney has no previous convictions and did not gain personally from the offences. (rte.ie)
- otherRooney was assessed as being at low risk of reoffending. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 May2026Woman who laundered money for crime group avoids jail
Reports the sentencing of Amy Rooney at Dundalk Circuit Court, where the suspended sentence was imposed. Adds the plea details, the €17,243 lodged to her account, the link to the Boylan organised crime group and the judge's remarks.
convicted, Amy Rooney, 31, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Rooney - 21 Jan2026Childcare worker jailed for laundering, drug offences
Sentencing report from Dundalk Circuit Court. The article gives her age as 33, while the existing case lists 32. It adds the guilty pleas, the Thailand package, the bank account movements and the sentence.
convicted, Michaela Fitzpatrick, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michaela Fitzpatrick - 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 - 14 Oct2024Eight charged with drugs, money laundering offences
Reports the charges against all eight accused, the Drogheda District Court appearance of seven of them, the Section 72 charge against Michaela Fitzpatrick, and the bail remand to 25 November. Gives the offence dates as 2020 to 2022, with one offence dated 24 January 2024.
accused, Michaela Fitzpatrick, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michaela Fitzpatrickaccused, Luke Lawless, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Luke Lawlessaccused, Leah Smith, 26, female, named, irish (judged from name)Leah Smithaccused, Annie Smith, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Annie Smithaccused, Amy Rooney, 30, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Rooneyaccused, Niamh McManus, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh McManusaccused, Marlena Aleksandrowicz, 28, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marlena Aleksandrowiczaccused, Jade Heeney, 26, female, named, irish (judged from name)Jade Heeney