Limerick taxi driver denied bail over firearms and cocaine charges

A Limerick taxi driver was refused bail by Limerick District Court on Thursday after being charged with possession of four handguns, ammunition and cocaine.

John O’Neill, 64, was arrested following a search of his rented bedroom at Haymarket, Cathedral Place, carried out by gardai from the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit on 22 September. The search, conducted under a warrant, uncovered four Glock 19 pistols, four magazines, thirteen rounds of 9mm Luger calibre CBC ammunition and 37.9 g of cocaine valued at €3,790.

O’Neill faces five offences under Section 27(a)(1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1964, including four counts of possession of firearms, one count of possession of ammunition and two counts relating to cocaine – one for supply and one for simple possession.

Detective Garda Declan O’Halloran testified that O’Neill was not present during the raid but was later stopped driving a car on Roxboro Road and arrested. The detective asserted that the weapons were in good condition and under O’Neill’s control, and expressed belief that he would not comply with bail conditions.

Solicitor Cathal Quirke argued that O’Neill, who has a history of two heart attacks and a back injury, would suffer hardship if remanded. Judge Patricia Harney, however, concluded that the seriousness of the offences outweighed the presumption of innocence and denied bail, granting O’Neill legal aid and remanding him in custody pending a DPP direction hearing on 29 September.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Michael Saffle / Pexels.