A notorious Limerick crime family member and convicted killer charged with money laundering was living in a “modest” council house – not in a “palatial home overlooking Lough Derg.” 

Richard Treacy, aged 37, of Downey St, Garryowen, Co Limerick, was claiming social welfare and there was no record of him ever working, the Special Criminal Court heard.

Yet some €4,000 and Stg£3,900 in cash was found stuffed in a sock drawer in his bedroom and more cash – €600 and €500 – was found in the kitchen during a search under warrant by gardaí in June 2020.

But he claimed some money had been given by his mother for house renovations, €600 was cash he had saved, and some €500 was from the dole, which he said he had collected the previous day.

In total, some €100,000 was allegedly laundered through the house. But defence barrister Lorcan Connolly said that that this was over a period of seven years.

Mr Connolly said:

It’s a relatively modest house, a council house in Limerick. We’re not dealing with a palatial home overlooking Lough Derg.

His mother acquired the house, renovation works were subsequently done and the defendant now lives there with his family, Mr Connolly said. But Detective Garda Ronan O’Reilly said that “very minor works” had been done to the house between 2014 to 2020.

Det. Gda O’Reilly told the Special Criminal Court that Treacy had 10 previous convictions, including for manslaughter, for which he was jailed for six years. Other convictions included violent disorder and dangerous driving causing harm.

He was convicted in 2007 of the manslaughter of Darren Coughlan, who was beaten to death in Limerick in 2005. Mr Coughlan’s brother John shot Mr Treacy’s brother Daniel in 2010 and was jailed for life for murder.

Mr Treacy is the nephew of notorious Limerick crime boss and convicted drug dealer Christy Keane. Mr Treacy and his relatives had been involved in a feud with another family in Limerick city, and his previous conviction for manslaughter was a feud-related incident, Det. Gda O’Reilly said.

However, defence counsel Mr Connolly took exception to a feud being mentioned in the hearing as he said it had no bearing on the case. Once this had been mentioned it would ‘colour’ minds and interpretation of the case, Mr Connolly said. He called for an adjournment.

But prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy noted that nothing had been said which had not already been said in another court and the garda felt that giving some details on previous convictions was appropriate to give context.

No evidence was given to link this case to other matters, she said. And the court was “well able to draw clear blue line” between those matters, she said.

Justice Karen O’Connor said that the matter of a feud does not form part of the three-judge court’s consideration of the case.

“We do not believe it is necessary to recuse ourselves,” Justice O’Connor said. They were three very experienced judges and the court could continue, she said.

Mr Treacy had now been nine years “trouble-free” and was a committed father who was very active in his children’s lives, the court heard. And he had pleaded guilty, saving the State time and resources, Mr Connolly noted.

Mr Treacy was before the Special Criminal Court for an alleged money laundering offence relating to renovation work carried out at his home at Downey St, Garryowen, Co Limerick.

He was charged that between January 1, 2014, and January 12, 2021, with knowing or being reckless as to whether renovation work carried out at his home address was the proceeds of criminal conduct, or did disguise the true source of the property.

The offence is contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He had pleaded guilty, with an acceptance that €100,000 had gone into a house renovation.

Moneys are presumed to come from criminal conduct under the act, when they can’t be explained, the court heard. Mr Treacy was remanded on continuing bail until October 20 for sentencing.