Limerick brothers charged with having cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply

David Raleigh

Two Limerick brothers have been charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply, after they allegedly offloaded the drugs to another man who stashed some of the drugs into his underwear as they were being followed by gardaí.

Garda Stephen McEntegart and Garda Mike O’Grady, both attached to the Divisional Drugs Unit, Henry Street, Limerick, gave evidence in court of charging Aaron O’Donoghue, 25, and his brother Thomas O’Donoghue, 20, both natives of Hyde Road, Prospect, Limerick City.

Gardaí arrested the two brothers last Monday night, Limerick District Court heard on Tuesday.

Aaron O’Donoghue faces one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply, as well as one count of simple possession of cannabis, on July 6th, 2025.

Thomas O’Donoghue faces one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply, as well as one count of simple possession of cocaine, on July 6th, 2025.

During a joint hearing for the two accused siblings, Garda McEntegart objected to bail, under Section 2 of the Bail Act, 1997, “on the belief” that both accused siblings would each “continue to commit further serious crimes” and “fail to meet that bail”.

Garda McEntegart told the court that gardaí travelling in an unmarked patrol car stopped a taxi that was carrying four males, including the two accused, who travelled from a property used by the O’Donoghue brothers at Meelick, Co Clare, and then along the Knockalisheen Road, and onto Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Limerick, at 7.30pm, July 6th last.

Garda McEntegart said Gardaí searched the taxi and found €2,500 worth of cannabis at the feet of a male passenger, plus a further €3,850 worth of cocaine stashed in this man’s underwear.

On August 27th last, Gardaí obtained a warrant and seized video and audio feed from the taxi, which, Garda McEntegart alleged, showed the two accused brothers on CCTV footage from both the interior and exterior of the vehicle on the evening in question.

Garda McEntegart said the footage showed the taxi “parked in the driveway of Sandy Acre, Meelick, a property used by the O’Donoghues”.

“All four males stopped in this taxi are seen exiting the backyard of Sandy Acre, Meelick, and getting into the taxi.”

“Thomas O’Donoghue is clearly visible holding the bag of cocaine and observing the unmarked patrol vehicle behind him. He handed this suspected cocaine to (the other passenger), who conceals it in his underwear.”

“Aaron O’Donoghue then takes out a package from his jacket containing the cannabis which he throws at (another passenger), who throws it back at Aaron O’Donoghue, who throws it back at (this man) and lands at his feet before the vehicle is subsequently stopped by gardaí.”

Garda McEntegart said: “My belief is that if granted bail, the applicants will continue to further similar serious offences, including the distribution of large amounts of drugs in Limerick city and beyond.”

Garda McEntegart said that, in his opinion, the brothers' release “would not be in the best interests of the public at large, given the nature and seriousness of the offences alleged against them”.

Garda McEntegart said the two accused men replied “no comment” when interviewed by gardaí about the offences alleged against them.

Judge Carrol Anne Coolican said both accused men were “entitled to the presumption of innocence”.

The judge refused Aaron O’Donoghue bail and granted Thomas O’Donoghue bail.

Thomas O’Donoghue agreed to a number of bail conditions, including that he stay away from Sandy Acre, Meelick, Co Clare; sign on daily at a local garda station; reside at his current address at Kickham Avenue, Prospect; obey a nightly curfew; and be available to gardaí 24/7 on a charged and in-credit mobile phone.

Judge Coolican remanded the brothers to appear before Limerick District Court again on September 16th for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.