€70k of suspected cocaine found on bin outside Christy Keane's home, court hears
Also this Tuesday, Mr Keane’s co-accused appeared at Limerick District Court in relation to the large amount of suspected cocaine found in his vehicle
CHRISTOPHER (Christy) Keane has been denied bail for a second time at Limerick District Court.
Mr Keane, aged 65, with an address at Singland Gardens, Limerick, appeared before Judge Darach McCarthy via video-link this Tuesday from Limerick Prison.
The accused is charged with three drug offences arising from a search at his home on November 22, 2024. Judge McCarthy was informed that suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €70,000 was seized on this date .
At a previous hearing, Mr Keane was told that he is to stand trial on indictment before the Special Criminal Court in relation to these matters.
The Limerick man’s solicitor, Tom Kiely, made a bail application on behalf of his client this Tuesday, when he was also served the Book of Evidence. There was a large garda presence in courtroom six, including Chief Superintendent for the Limerick Garda Division, Derek Smart.
Representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), State Solicitor for Limerick city, Padraig Mawe, said that Mr Keane also sought High Court bail in the past, which was denied. It was his view that the accused should be sent forward for trial in custody.
Judge McCarthy gave Christy Keane an alibi warning, informing the accused that if he intends on using an alibi at trial, he must notify the court in advance.
Opposing bail, Detective Garda Brendan McSweeney said it was his belief that Mr Keane would commit serious crimes and potentially flee the jurisdiction.
In his evidence, Detective McSweeney alleged that on November 22, 2024, gardai stopped a BMW car on Henry Street at about 5:30pm, which Limerick native Stephen McNamara was driving.
A search of the vehicle revealed an estimated €490,000 worth of suspected cocaine in the footwell of the passenger seat. He was arrested just minutes after the discovery and is now charged with four offences before the courts.
Detective McSweeney further alleged that gardai determined, through CCTV footage, that Mr McNamara’s vehicle was at the home of Christy Keane shortly before the suspected cocaine was seized.
Limerick District Court heard that a search was then carried out at Mr Keane’s address and approximately €70,000 worth of suspected cocaine was located on top of a bin “full of rubbish” outside his house, near the back door. He was arrested at 8:47pm, conveyed to Henry Street garda station and later released without charge.
Despite Mr Keane claiming not to know Mr McNamara, it is alleged that gardai have established the pair had been in contact over the phone. It was Det McSweeney’s view that the evidence compiled against the accused is strong and as a result, Mr Keane should be refused bail.
Challenging the garda objection, solicitor Tom Kiely reminded Judge McCarthy that his client is not charged with the Henry Street drugs seizure and is solely before the courts in regard to the suspected cocaine found at his home, a completely separate location.
He further stated that while Mr Keane was released without charge following his arrest in November 2024, his co-accused, Stephen McNamara, was charged at this time and subsequently got bail.
It was Mr Kiely’s view that if the evidence is as strong as gardai say it is, then Mr Keane would be charged with all matters, not just the drugs seizure at his address.
Christy Keane was arrested on June 13, 2025, when gardai showed up unannounced at his property. He was co-operative following his arrest and was later charged on July 1, 2025. Mr Keane made no reply to the allegations against him.
His solicitor put to the judge that the suspected cocaine was found outside his client’s home but adjacent to the back door. There is no forensic link between Mr Keane and the substances, the court heard.
Mr Kiely said his client can reside at his home address, where he lives with his wife, and that his children and grandchildren are nearby. He said that while gardai are concerned Mr Keane could flee the country, this is a matter of opinion as no evidence points to such. He went on to remind the court that with charges of this nature, those accused routinely get bail.
Upon taking all submissions into consideration and hearing from Limerick Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, Judge Darach McCarthy said that while it was a “reasonably necessary” request to refuse bail, the application is “very complex” overall due to the “seriousness” of the charges.
Judge McCarthy refused Mr Keane’s bail application, particularly due to the fact that he could evade the country, but said his solicitor put forward the case to grant bail “quite impressively."
Christy Keane was remanded in custody to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court. The date is yet to be determined.
Also this Tuesday, Mr Keane’s co-accused appeared at Limerick District Court in relation to the large amount of suspected cocaine found in his vehicle.
Stephen McNamara, aged 45, with an address at Woodcock Hill, Meelick, Co Clare, came before Judge Darach McCarthy charged with four offences arising from November 22, 2024. He is on bail in relation to all matters.
Mr McNamara has also been sent forward for trial on indictment at a sitting of a Special Criminal Court and was served the Book of Evidence.
Judge McCarthy reminded the man of his bail conditions and transferred them over to a new bond. He was ordered not to have any contact with his co-accused and was given the alibi warning.
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