TWO men who were charged with the sale and supply of over €150,000 worth of heroin in the city last weekend, have been granted bail by Limerick District Court on the basis that they are bonded by €20,000 each. Judge Aeneas McCarthy heard evidence that the gardai were objecting to bail due to the serious nature of the charges, but it was countered by Sarah Ryan, solicitor for both men, that the accused would answer bail pending conditions.
The court heard earlier that 20-year-old James O’Keefe, with an address at 12 Moylish Crescent, Ballynanty, and 18-year-old Adam Llewelyn, of 48 Craeval Park, Moyross, were, according to gardai allegedly “caught red handed” with 1.2kg of heroin at a place commonly known as the Delmege, Moyross, near the Knocklisheen Road last weekend.
Llewelyn is charged with offences contrary to section 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and O’Keefe is charged with the same drug related offences, and also with obstruction of a peace officer contrary to section 19 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994.
Due to the serious nature of the charges, gardai were objecting to bail.
However, Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that there was a legal entitlement to bail and that the “serious nature of the charges was not enough alone to deny bail”.
Both men were granted bail on their own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €20,000 with half to be lodged and to be independently approved by the courts and gardai with 24 hours notice given.
The two were remanded in custody with consent to bail with conditions including that they sign on daily, surrender their passports and obey a curfew. The case was adjourned with both to appear again next week.
