Ireland Case No. 0744Facilitating a criminal organisation · Co. Louth
Two men jailed for facilitating Drogheda organised crime group
Dean Thornton, 28, and Gary Kelly, 31, both men from Moneymore, Drogheda, Co Louth, ran an online shop called Poundland to sell cocaine and cannabis via Instagram and Telegram for the Boylan organised crime group between July 2023 and December 2024. The pair were charged in January 2025 with facilitating an organised crime group, money laundering and drug dealing offences and pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court in November 2025. On 19 June 2026, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced them at Dundalk Circuit Court, with reports giving Thornton's term as either seven and a half years or eight years and nine months with 15 months suspended, and Kelly's as either six years and nine months or eight years with 15 months suspended. The sentences were backdated to 23 January 2025 when both men went into custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Jan
4 reports - Convicted8 Nov
- Sentenced19 Jun
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The two men set up and ran an online shop called Poundland to sell cocaine and cannabis via Instagram and Telegram for the Boylan organised crime group.
- Where
- The offences occurred at numerous locations in Drogheda, Co Louth, and both men had addresses in Moneymore, Drogheda.
- When
- The offences are alleged to have occurred between March 2023 and January 2025, and the Poundland shop operated between July 2023 and December 2024.
- Investigation
- The men operated a sub-cell of the Boylan organised crime group, which is headed by brothers Keith and Josh Boylan from Moneymore.
- Gardaí linked the Poundland online shop to the two men through analysis of personal Instagram accounts and five mobile phone numbers.
- Charges
- Both men were charged with Section 72 offences for facilitating organised crime, money laundering and the sale and supply of drugs.
- Both men pleaded guilty to facilitating an organised crime group, with Thornton also pleading guilty to money laundering charges and Kelly admitting money laundering and drug dealing offences.
- In court
- Both men were remanded in custody from January 2025 and entered guilty pleas at Dundalk Circuit Court in November 2025.
- Sentence
- Judge Dara Hayes sentenced the pair at Dundalk Circuit Court on 19 June 2026, with reports giving Thornton's term as either seven and a half years or eight years and nine months with 15 months suspended, and Kelly's as either six years and nine months or eight years with 15 months suspended.
- The sentences were backdated to 23 January 2025 when both defendants went into custody.
- Other details
- The judge described the pair as prominent members of the crime group who played a significant role in serious violence and feuding in Drogheda, with the OCG having a significant role in drug distribution in the Louth and Meath area.
- Thornton has 18 previous convictions and Kelly has 85 or 88 previous convictions, as reports differ.
115 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDean Thornton is 27 years old and from Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGary Kelly, 29, of Moneymore in Drogheda, is the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThornton admitted handling criminal cash for a gang operating in Drogheda. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two men pleaded guilty to facilitating an organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- whatThe two men set up and ran an online shop called Poundland to sell drugs via social media platforms. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- whereThe offences occurred at numerous locations in Drogheda (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThornton lives in Moneymore, Drogheda, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereBoth men have addresses in Moneymore, Drogheda. (rte.ie)
- whereBoth men had addresses in Moneymore, Drogheda. (rte.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)
- whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred in Drogheda between March 2023 and January 2025. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred between March 28, 2023 and January 21, 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred on dates between June 6, 2023 and January 21, 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe Poundland shop operated between July 2023 and December 2024. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe men were involved in a sub-cell of the Boylan organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe men operated an online virtual shop called Poundland between July 2023 and December 2024. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí said Dean Thornton was a level above Gary Kelly in a command structure. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí found through analysis of personal Instagram accounts that the Poundland pages were operated by the two men. (rte.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)
- chargeBoth men are charged with organised crime, money laundering and drugs-related offences linked to the Drogheda feud. (rte.ie)
- chargeBoth men face Section 72 charges for facilitating organised crime, the sale and supply of drugs and money laundering. (rte.ie)
- chargeDean Thornton also faces other money laundering offences at various locations in Drogheda, and Gary Kelly faces other drugs-related offences in Moneymore. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with Section 72 offences for facilitating organised crime, money laundering and the sale and supply of drugs (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is facing a total of six charges (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to facilitate a serious offence (sale and supply of drugs). (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with engaging in receiving, handling and possession of money that was the proceeds of criminal conduct under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with sale and supply of cannabis at Moneymore on multiple dates in 2023 and 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with sale of Phenethylamine on December 5, 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with sale and supply of cocaine at Moneymore on February 16, 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with possession of cannabis on November 20, 2023 at Moneymore. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThornton pleaded guilty to a Section 72 offence of enhancing a criminal organisation's ability to facilitate drug sale and supply and money laundering. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to facilitating organised crime. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDean Thornton also pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. (rte.ie)
- chargeGary Kelly also admitted money laundering and drug dealing offences. (rte.ie)
- chargeBoth men pleaded guilty to facilitating an organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- chargeThornton also pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. (rte.ie)
- chargeKelly also admitted money laundering and drug dealing offences. (rte.ie)
- chargeNo criminal charges were brought arising from the phone and cannabis discoveries (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGary Kelly and Dean Thornton appeared before Dundalk District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe district court had no jurisdiction to consider bail for the Section 72 offences. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Stephanie Coggans accepted a recommendation to remand both accused in custody at Mountjoy Prison. (rte.ie)
- courtBoth men are due to appear again before Drogheda District Court, sitting in Dundalk, on Tuesday for the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (rte.ie)
- courtHe appeared via video link at Drogheda District Court from Mountjoy Prison on Monday (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe book of evidence was served on his solicitor James Allen (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was sent forward to Dundalk Circuit Court to face trial by judge and jury later in the year (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Nicola Andrews gave the accused the alibi warning and made a Section 56 disclosure order (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to include two counsel (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to appear before Dundalk Circuit Court on April 1 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA book of evidence was served on him at Drogheda District Court on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was formally sent forward to the current sitting of Dundalk Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Nicola Andrews gave the accused the alibi warning, requiring notification to the prosecution within 14 days. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA Section 56 order was granted to include videos of interviews Gardaí conducted with the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to include one junior counsel and one senior counsel. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded in continuing custody to appear before Dundalk Circuit Court on April 15. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThornton and Kelly entered guilty pleas at Dundalk Circuit Court on a Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth men were charged earlier this year and remanded in custody after a short hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo bail application was made. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth men have been in custody since January 2025. (rte.ie)
- courtThe men were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe pair were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court by Judge Dara Hayes. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBoth men will be sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court next February. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Dara Hayes remanded both men in custody to be sentenced on 16 June. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThornton was jailed for seven and a half years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceKelly was jailed for six years and nine months. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThornton was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison, with the final 15 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceKelly was sentenced to eight years in prison, with 15 months suspended. (rte.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)
- otherGarda Dean Hyland gave evidence of charging Gary Kelly at Dundalk Garda Station at 10.30pm the previous night. (rte.ie)
- otherGarda Niall McManus gave evidence of charging Dean Thornton at Drogheda Garda Station just after 11pm the previous night. (rte.ie)
- otherBoth men made no reply after caution. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence barrister raised significant safety concerns for both men if remanded to Cloverhill Prison. (rte.ie)
- otherThe charges are in connection with the Drogheda feud. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe shop was used to sell cocaine and cannabis on Instagram and Telegram. (rte.ie)
- otherDean Thornton has 18 previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherGary Kelly has 85 previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherThe men ran a sub-cell of the Boylan organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said the offending was serious and that both men were prominent members of the organised crime group. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said the organised crime group had a significant role in drug distribution in the Louth and Meath area. (rte.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 - 19 Jun2026Two men who ran 'online drugs supermarket' jailed
Reports the sentencing of two men for running the Poundland online drugs shop, a sub-cell of the Boylan organised crime group. The article gives two different sentence lengths for each man: Thornton is reported as seven and a half years and as eight years and nine months with 15 months suspended, and Kelly as six years and nine months and as eight years with 15 months suspended.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 8 May2026Two men to be sentenced over Drogheda gang involvement
Sentencing hearing for two men in custody since January 2025. Sentencing was adjourned to 16 June. No matching case is in the existing list.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 8 Nov2025Drogheda rapper to be sentenced after admitting to facilitating organised crime
Reports the guilty pleas of Dean Thornton and Gary Kelly, who remain in custody pending sentencing next February. Includes background on Thornton's rap career and a gang feud, which the article does not link to the charges.
convicted, Dean Thornton, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thorntonconvicted, Gary Kelly, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 7 Apr2025Trial for man charged with offences in connection with Drogheda feud
Book of evidence served at Drogheda District Court and accused formally sent forward to Dundalk Circuit Court for trial by judge and jury; remanded in continuing custody to appear on 15 April 2025.
accused, Gary Kelly, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kelly - 24 Mar2025Trial for man charged with range of organised crime offences in Drogheda
First report of Thornton's court appearance and committal for trial on six Section 72 organised crime charges linked to the Drogheda feud.
accused, Dean Thornton, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thornton - 23 Jan2025Two remanded on range of organised crime offences
Reports the first court appearance and remand in custody of Gary Kelly (29) and Dean Thornton (27), with the Section 72 charges, the alleged date range, the charging gardaí, the bail jurisdiction issue and the next court date.
accused, Gary Kelly, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Kellyaccused, Dean Thornton, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Thornton