Drogheda man charged with money laundering now charged with organised crime offences

A man charged with money laundering offences has been further charged with participating in or facilitating organised crime in Drogheda.

Anthony McEntaggart, 38, of Moneymore in Drogheda was arrested on Monday morning as part of the ongoing investigation targeting organised criminal activities in Co Louth under Operation Stratus.

Garda James Durkan told Judge Nicola Andrews at Drogheda District Court he charged the accused at 11.30am with the offence of participating in/ facilitating organised crime contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act.

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Gda Durkan also charged him in relation to one count of money laundering contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act between September 30, 2015 and June 26, 2020 via a Western Union account.

He further charged the accused with unlawful possession of drugs with a value in excess of €13,000 with the intent to supply contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act on December 20, 2023 and possession with intent to supply on the same date.

The accused is also charged with one count of unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act on December 20, 2023. Gda Durkin said the accused made ‘no reply’ after caution to each of the charges.

The court heard the accused has already been charged with money laundering offences relating to dates between June 6, 2021 and July 20, 2023 when he did knowing or believing (or being reckless as to whether) property, to which money credited and/or debited to his Revolut Account was allegedly the proceeds of criminal conduct.

He is further charged that on July 17, 2020 and July 10, 2023 did knowing or believing (or being reckless as to whether) property, to with money credited and/or debited to his AIB Bank Account, was allegedly the proceeds of criminal conduct.

McEntaggart is also charged with concealing €8,150 in cash in a child’s toy at an address in Moneymore on February 9, 2023 and charged with demanding €1,000 from a female with menaces on December 20, 2021 and charged with using a false medical certificate at Drogheda District Court on October 9, 2023.

Gda Durkin told Drogheda District Court the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment on all of the charges, including the five new charges on Monday.

The accused is on bail in relation to the previous charges, however, Judge Andrews said she does not have jurisdiction to grant the accused bail on the Section 72 matter as the High Court can only grant bail for that charge.

Defence solicitor Michael Finnucane said the accused is hoping to make a bail application on Thursday in the High Court for the Section 72 charge and his independent surety will be available on Friday for the bail application on the rest of the new charges.

Judge Andrews remanded the accused in custody with consent to district court bail on the new charges, except for the Section 72 charge.

The bail application will be made before Ardee District Court on Friday, November 8. The accused’s solicitor was granted legal aid on all the charges.

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