A convicted rapist facing drugs charges told gardai that “deal bags” discovered in a garden shed were for bird seed and seeds for flowers, a court has heard. Thomas O’Neill, aged 35, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick city pleaded guilty to two counts of having heroin for sale or supply and one of possessing cocaine for sale of supply. He also pleaded guilty, at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court, to two counts of possession of heroin and one of cocaine.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Seán O’Connor, Roxboro Road garda station in Limerick. Mr O’Sullivan said on the night of June 7, 2024, three Armed Support Unit gardai observed the accused engage in a transaction believed to involve the sale or supply of drugs outside a property on Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston. “The accused was leaning into the rear of a Hyundai Tucson.
When gardai approached he became aggressive in an attempt to distract them. The officers observed deals of drugs on the back seat,” said Mr O’Sullivan. The court heard the Armed Support Unit contacted Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald at Roxboro Road garda station to obtain a search warrant.
The warrant was later executed and the vehicle seized at 10pm. “There were 23 deal bags of heroin and 18 deal bags of cocaine on the back seat. CCTV was secured which showed Thomas O’Neill engaging in drug dealing with two people,” said.