Christy Keane refused bail over 'serious' drugs charges

Christy Keane, a 65-year-old man from St Mary's Park in Limerick, has been refused bail and will stand trial for serious drug charges. Limerick District Court heard that gardaí arrested Keane at his home in Singland Gardens on November 22nd, 2024, seizing €70,000 worth of cocaine. The drugs were part of a planned operation targeting organized crime.

Keane's co-accused, Stephen McNamara, 44, from Meelick, Co Clare, who is facing charges of possession of €492,000 worth of cocaine, was remanded on continuing bail for trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered that the ordinary courts were inadequate to handle the men's trials, leading to a non-jury, judge-only Special Criminal Court.

During the bail hearing, Detective Garda Brendan McSweeney objected to Keane receiving bail, citing his belief that the accused takes numerous holidays and has no specific evidence linking him to the cocaine. However, Keane's solicitor, Tom Kiely, argued that there was no forensic evidence connecting Keane to the drugs found in his possession.

The judge, Darach McCarthy, agreed to refuse bail for Keane and continued bail for McNamara, with conditions including being of good behavior, not contacting McNamara, signing in daily at a garda station, staying out of Singland, and remaining substance-free. Both men were granted legal aid for their trial.