Limerick man who stored cocaine, heroin, and cannabis in Kinder eggshells is jailed

Accused admitted selling or supplying others with almost €5,000 worth of drugs from a vacant house near his own home

Owen Treacy outside Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where he was jailed for four years, with the final six months suspended. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

A man who stored cocaine, heroin, and cannabis in Kinder chocolate eggshells before selling them on the street has been jailed for four years, with the final six months suspended.

Owen Treacy, 28, with an address at St Ita’s St, St Mary’s Park, Limerick — a grandnephew of the murdered Limerick gangland boss Kieran Keane — waved to loved ones in court as he was led away to prison.

He had pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply.

The father of two — who had 139 previous convictions — admitted selling or supplying others with almost €5,000 worth of drugs from a vacant house near his own home in 2019.

The drug deals were stored inside Kinder plastic eggshells and hidden under roof tiles at a derelict property in the St Mary’s Park estate, the court heard.

The defendant’s sister, Stephanie Treacy, was previously jailed for two years for the same offences.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said when drug users would arrive at the vacant house, Treacy would climb on top of its roof via a ladder and fetch the drug deals.

Mr O’Sullivan said Treacy was involved in “organised and systematic drug dealing” in the housing estate.

The court heard gardaí set in train a covert long-term surveillance of Treacy and others involved in supplying drugs from the estate before swooping on his residence and arresting him.

“Gardaí observed the accused, his sister Stephanie, who has been before the courts, and associates, access the roofs of St Munchin’s St, between July 18 and August 2, 2019. They were placing and removing objects under roof tiles,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

On August 2, 2019, gardaí raided three properties where they seized more than €32,000 in cash and cheques, as well as more than 100 drug deals that were ready for distribution. 

Treacy’s barrister said it was accepted the defendant was a drug dealer, but argued he was being painted as a drugs kingpin when his dealing was “not a sophisticated operation”.

However, sentencing judge Colin Daly said Treacy was responsible for a significant drug-dealing operation in his own community, describing it as “an egregious occupation”.

The judge said the fact that Treacy made no attempt to conceal the operation did not imply a lack of sophistication but rather "a brazen attitude”.