A LIMERICK man who Gardaí claimed is involved in the distribution of drugs in Limerick and beyond was charged with possessing €35,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply.
Owen Treacy (28), with an address at St Senan’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick City, was this Tuesday remanded in custody by Judge Carol Anne Coolican at Limerick District Court.
Mr Treacy is charged with one count of being in possession of cocaine for sale or supply and one count of possession of cocaine this past Sunday (September 15).
Opposing bail, Detective Garda Adrian Cahill, Drugs Unit at Henry Street Garda Station, said: “It is my belief that, if granted bail, Owen Treacy will commit further serious crimes, he will fail to meet any bail conditions, and he will continue to engage in the distribution of cocaine in the Limerick region and beyond.”
“The charges are very serious, it is my belief the applicant will continue to engage in criminality if granted bail.”
The Garda alleged, that last Sunday morning, during a planned Garda “intelligence-led operation targeting the sale, supply, and distribution of controlled drugs in the King’s Island area”, he personally observed Mr Treacy placing packages into a car at Castle Street in Limerick City.
Detective Garda Cahill alleged that when Gardaí stopped this car, they recovered two packages of cocaine, subject to forensic testing, with an estimated value of €35,000.
Garda Cahill alleged that, prior to the alleged interaction with the car, Mr Treacy was observed leaving his home and going to a yard on St Munchin’s Street that he owns and keeps horses, and that he was then seen riding a “dirt bike” to Castle Street.
Mr Treacy, a father of two and a well-known soccer player in the Limerick District League, made no reply to the charges, the court heard.
Detective Garda Cahill said Gardaí were preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to the case.
Opposing bail, Garda Cahill cited the “value of the drugs seized, and the strength and nature of the evidence”, as well as his alleged personal observations of Mr Treacy, other garda witnesses, and footage from 27 CCTV cameras.
In a submission to the court, Mr Treacy’s solicitor, Tom Kiely, said: “I think the State’s case is weak, two years is how long these type of cases take, and bail should be granted.”
Sergeant Sean Murray, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, reiterated the Garda objections to Judge Coolican, telling her “you should refuse bail”.
The Judge said Mr Treacy was “entitled to the presumption of innocence”, adding that, having taken into account the nature of all of the evidence, she was refusing bail.
She remanded Mr Treacy in custody to appear before Limerick District Court for DPP directions on September 24.
