A landscape gardener charged with possession of almost €500,000 of cocaine played a “significant role” in transporting drugs for the “Keane” organised crime gang in Limerick, a court heard on Monday.
Stephen McNamara, (43), with an address at Woodcock Hill, Meelick, Co Clare, appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply.
The drugs were valued at €490,000, gardaí told the court.
Detective Garda Brendan McSweeney, Henry Street Garda Station, told the court he arrested Mr McNamara at 5:53pm last Friday, after searching the accused’s car, a black BMW, and discovering seven parcels of suspected cocaine inside the vehicle.
Detective Garda McSweeney alleged that Mr McNamara admitted to gardaí, following his arrest, that he had known that he was transporting what he believed to be cocaine.
Objecting to bail, Det Gda McSweeney alleged that Mr McNamara had played a “significant role for the Keane organised crime group” and that the accused had been in contact with “leading members” of the gang.
The court heard Mr McNamara has ongoing drug addiction issues.
Detective Garda McSweeney alleged the accused was “caught red-handed” with a suspected “large volume” of cocaine.
The garda witness said he believed Mr McNamara would continue to allegedly play a “significant role in the logistics and transportation of cocaine in the city” if he was granted bail.
Under questioning from Mr McNamara’s solicitor Sarah Ryan, Det Gda McSweeney agreed the accused was “cooperative” “courteous” and “respectful” to gardaí following his arrest.
Ms Ryan put it to the garda witness that Mr McNamara was running a “landscaping business” and was “not doing well financially”.
Detective Garda McSweeney said he was not aware of any landscaping business and said Mr McNamara “had €2,000 in cash in his possession in his socks” and that he was driving a €35,000 vehicle” when he was arrested.
“He (Mr McNamara) sold an Audi for €18,000 last year is is paying €400pm on finance for his (current) vehicle,” the garda added.
Ms Ryan said the accused had previously attended at a drug-treatment facility and that he was impacted by two recent bereavements.
Sergeant Sean Murray, prosecuting, alleged that the accused would, in the opinion of the gardaí, “continue to commit scheduled offences to feed a (drug) habit and assist a known organised crime gang that we know he associates with”.
Judge Patricia Harney said she was granting Mr McNamara bail on a number of conditions, including that he lodge €500 with the court, that he be of good behaviour while on bail, that he reside at his home address only, and notify Gardai of any change in his address, and that he sign on daily at Henry Street Garda Station.
The judge also ordered that Mr McNamara have “no contact whatsoever, with Christy Keane” as requested by gardaí.
“No contact means - no contact - including by means of third party contact, by mobile phone, or on social media,” the judge said.
The judge also ordered Mr McNamara “stay out of the Singland area of Limerick" as requested by gardaí.
The accused was also ordered to “surrender his passport”, provide gardaí with a contact number that is to be charged and in credit at all times, “and to remain alcohol and drug-free while in public”.
Sergeant Murray said gardaí were awaiting further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr McNamara, who was supported in court by family members lodged the €500 bail bond that was brought to the court by a relative.
He was remanded on bail to appear before Limerick District Court again on March 12th, 2025.
A second man, Christy Keane, 63, a native of St Mary’s Park, who was also arrested last Friday as part of the drugs probe, was “released without charge pending further investigations”, a garda spokeswoman said.
