A TEENAGER has been charged in court after being found by Gardaí with an 18-inch machete blade, cash, and cocaine.
Kevin Kiely (19), with an address at Barnakyle, Patrickswell, County Limerick, was granted bail before a special sitting of Ennis District Court this past Saturday (August 3).
Mr Kiely is charged that, on August 2, he had “an 18-inch machete blade … at Cloughkeating, Patrickswell, Limerick, a public place”, charge sheets stated.
The alleged offence is contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Mr Kiely is further accused that, on the same date at the same location, he had in his possession “a controlled drug, namely cocaine, to the value €9,100”, for sale or supply.
Mr Kiely is further charged with simple possession of cocaine.
According to charge sheets Mr Kiely made no reply to the charges.
It is alleged that, when he was stopped by Gardaí while driving on Friday last (August 2), Mr Kiely was found with the cocaine, €1,000 cash, and a large machete.
The search was part of local Garda investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs and related criminal activity in the Limerick area.
The accused was arrested by Detective Garda Dean Landers, Roxboro Road Garda Station, last Friday (August 2) and charged with three offences the following day.
Prosecuting Garda Inspector, Gearóid Thompson, of Bruff Garda Station, told the court that the State had consented to bail with strict conditions.
The accused’s solicitor, Tom Kiely (no relation to the accused), of Kiely McCarthy Solicitors, said his client was “not working and is in receipt of social welfare”.
Free legal aid was granted to the accused, who signed a bail bond agreeing to only reside at his home address at Barnakyle, Patrickswell; to provide his phone number to Gardaí in order to be contactable at all times, and to sign on daily at a Garda station.
The accused did not indicate a plea and spoke in court only to confirm he had signed his bail bond.
Judge Fiona Brennan remanded Mr Kiely on bail to appear before Limerick District Court on September 13 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
