Limerick man, Christy Keane, has been refused bail and returned for trial on “serious” drugs charges.
Limerick District Court heard Mr Keane, 65, originally from St Mary’s Park, Limerick, was arrested at his home at Singland Gardens, Singland, Limerick, after gardaí seized €70,000 worth of cocaine at the property, on 22 November 2024.
A detective garda told the court the drugs were seized by gardaí as part of a planned operation targeting organised crime.
A co-accused, Stephen McNamara, 44, of Woodcock Hill, Meelick, Co Clare, who is charged with possession of €492,000 worth of cocaine as part of the same investigation, was remanded on continuing bail for trial.
State Solicitor for Limerick city, Padraig Mawe, told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that Mr Keane and Mr McNamara would be tried before a non-jury, judge-only, Special Criminal Court.
Mr Mawe said the DPP considered that the “ordinary courts were inadequate” to deal with the men’s trial.
During a contested bail hearing for Mr Keane, Detective Garda Brendan McSweeney objected to the accused receiving bail. The court heard Mr Keane was initially arrested but later released without charge.
He was re-arrested on 30 June 2026 and charged on 1 July with three offences including, possessing €70,000 cocaine; possessing €70,000 cocaine for sale or supply, and possessing cocaine with a street value of €13,000 or more, which is an offence that carries, on conviction, a maximum ten-year jail sentence.
Mr Keane’s solicitor, Tom Kiely, put it to Garda McSweeney that gardaí had “no specific evidence” to support their concern that Mr Keane is a flight risk.
Garda McSweeney said it was his belief that Mr Keane “takes a number of holidays throughout the year”.
Mr Kiely said Mr Keane was willing to surrender his passport, however Det Garda McSweeney said this “wouldn’t alleviate” garda concerns.
Det Garda McSweeney agreed with Mr Kiely that there is “no forensic evidence” linking Mr Keane to the cocaine that he is charged with having in his possession at his home.
Det Garda McSweeney also agreed with Mr Kiely that Mr Keane is not charged with possession of the €490,000 cocaine found in Mr McNamara’s car.
Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, who oversees the Limerick garda division, outlined in court his firm objection to Mr Keane achieving bail.
Details of Chief Smart’s objections, under Section 2A, Bail Act 1997, cannot be reported by order of Limerick District Court judge Darach McCarthy.
Judge McCarthy said the drugs charges were “serious” and said he was “satisfied” to refuse bail for Mr Keane and to continue bail for Mr McNamara, on on his own bond of €500; provided he be of good behaviour, have no contact with the co-accused; sign on daily at a garda station; stay out of Singland, Limerick, and remain substance free.
Books of Evidence, two volumes in length, were served on the two accused men.
The judge granted Mr Keane and Mr McNamara legal aid for a solicitor a well as a junior and senior counsel at their trial.