Christopher Keeley jailed for stolen cars and drugs

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Christopher Keeley was jailed for five and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 December 2017. The proceedings were reported on 12 December 2017.

Keeley pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars at two locations, possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply, and possession of fake bank drafts. The offences related to 31 August 2016.

The court heard that Keeley, then 53, was involved in chopping up stolen vehicles to sell their parts. Six stolen cars and approximately €70,000 worth of cannabis were involved. Gardaí found cannabis valued at €69,250 at an industrial unit in Summerhill, County Meath. At a separate lockup in Blessington, County Wicklow, they seized cars and cocaine valued at €6,415.

Judge Martin Nolan said Keeley was dealing drugs for profit. He accepted that Keeley was remorseful and would not appear before the court again for similar offences, and took his serious medical problems into account. The court heard that Keeley had experienced three bouts of cancer, a clot in his lung and arthritis. The judge noted that he would have great difficulty in prison.