Limerick man Christy Keane to face trial on cocaine possession

David Raleigh

A judge has granted gardaí an extension of time to finalise a book of evidence in a drugs prosecution against Limerick man, Christy Keane.

Keane, 65, originally from St Mary’s Park but with an address at Singland Gardens, is charged with one count of possession of cocaine with a street value of €70,000 for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The offence carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 10 years on conviction.

Keane is also charged with one count of “simple possession” of the drug for sale or supply, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, which carries a lesser sentence.

He appeared before Limerick District Court on Wednesday, August 19th, via video link from Limerick Prison, where he is being detained on remand.

Limerick Courthouse heard previously that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that Keane face trial on indictment before the non-jury, three-judge Special Criminal Court.

The State has alleged that €70,000 worth of cocaine was found by gardaí during a planned search of Keane’s home address at Singland Gardens, on November 22nd, 2024.

On Wednesday, Limerick District Court was experiencing difficulties with videolink services between the court and the men’s prison and women’s prison, where, at times, the system appeared to be showing male accused persons when female prisoners were called and vice versa.

When Keane appeared on video link after a different case was called involving a female accused person, Judge Catherine Ryan raised smiles in court when she asked Keane, “I take it you're in the male prison?” to which Keane replied “yeah”.

Gardaí told the court the Book of Evidence was “almost” completed and requested a three-week adjournment to allow time to complete and serve the book on Keane.

The judge granted the State’s application, with consent from Keane’s solicitor Tom Kiely, and extended the time for the book of evidence to be served.

She remanded Keane in continuing custody to appear by video link before Limerick District Court for service of the evidence book on September 11th.

A co-accused, who was not named in court, is also due to appear before the same court on the same date, it was heard.