A MAN appeared at Limerick District Court yesterday (Friday) charged with drugs offences, as part of a Garda operation targeting organised criminal activity in the Limerick region.
Michael Kalinowski, 36, with an address at Clonunion Cottage, Adare was charged with possession of almost €80,000 worth of suspected drugs.
A Polish national, Mr Kalinowski was provided with an interpreter during the hearing before District Court President Judge Paul Kelly.
He is accused of possession of €65,000 worth of amphetamine tablets and €14.500 worth of suspected cannabis, at a location in Limerick on Thursday, April 27.
The court was told that Mr Kalinowski has lived in Ireland for the past 12 years and has a significant history of employment. He recently changed jobs, having previously worked as a delivery driver and is now working as a warehouse operative on a weekly income of €450.
Garda Ryan Hill of the Limerick Divisional Drugs unit said he arrested Mr Kalinowski at 11.57pm, Thursday night. The accused made no reply and agreed to a number of bail conditions.
Inspector Liam Wallace, Roxboro Road Garda Station, said that given the nature of the charges and the amount of drugs involved, he was seeking an independent surety of €2,000, of which €1,000 had to be approved by Gardaí.
Inspector Wallace said Gardaí had concerns Mr Kalinowski had no immediate ties in Ireland, however defence counsel, Joseph McMahon argued that he was a long-time Irish resident and had had a record of being consistently employed here over the past 12 years.
Judge Kelly remanded him in custody with consent to bail on an independent surety of €2,000, of which €1,000 was to be approved by Gardaí, to appear at Limerick District Court on May 2.
