Two women who laundered money for one of the crime gangs at the centre of the Drogheda drugs feud have been given suspended sentences at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Leah Smith, aged 27, with an address at St Cronans Court, Swords had previously pleaded guilty to the money laundering of €14,100 between July 2020 and Sept 2020 via a Revolut account in her own name.
Niamh McManus, aged 39, from The Maudlins, Duleek, Co Meath admitted money laundering between Feb 2021 and April 2022 via a Revolut account in her own name.
The court had previously heard the two had been detected after gardaí began a probe into bank accounts held or controlled by gang leaders Keith Boylan and his brother Josh Boylan.
Judge Dara Hayes was told Smith who had been living in Drogheda at the time was involved in a violent relationship with an associate of the gang and when it ended she lived with a sister of the Boylans in Moneymore and it was to her the money was transferred.
She told gardaí they "were crazy times" and she "did not ask questions". Smith had been in fear of the organised crime gang and had written a letter of apology to the court.
She had no previous convictions and no longer lived in Drogheda. She told gardaí she did not know "where the gang are or what they are doing and she didn't care".
The court heard that McManus was the ex-partner of Josh Boylan with whom she had a child and almost €22,500 went through her account with most ending up in Dubai.
Judge Hayes was told McManus who was a hairdresser with her own business had struggled with addictions in the past but was clean and sober for five years and had no connections with her ex-partner.
Defence barristers said their clients who were now hard working and law-abiding had recklessly rather than knowingly become involved. They had been under the thumb of the organised crime gang and its associates and had not gained from the offences.
Passing sentence Judge Hayes noted the serious nature of the offending but accepted that the defendants had been reckless, although they had not been naive and knew the type of criminals who were involved.
The judge also noted the defendants had each expressed remorse and that each was a single mother now trying to live a prosocial life.
Judge Hayes sentenced each defendant to two-and-a-half years but suspended the sentences for two-and-a-half years on their entering a bond of €100 each to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period.
