Courts / Meath / Report
Five-year jail sentence over car "chop shop" and drugs bust
Summary
Christopher Keeley, aged 53, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a car chop‑shop operation and drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis. Gardaí seized six stolen vehicles, €70,000 worth of cannabis, and additional drugs including cocaine, as well as fake bank drafts, from a series of searches at an industrial unit in Summerhill, Meath, Keeley's home in Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and a lock‑up in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that the stolen cars had been taken during burglaries across the country. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Keeley's serious medical problems, accepted his remorse and imposed the sentence, stating Keeley would not appear again for similar offences. The sentence reflects the profit motive behind the drug dealing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Five-year jail sentence over car "chop shop" and drugs bust. Charges or matters: possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis, all of which were seized by gardai during a search of an industrial lock up in Summerhill, Co Meath; possession of stolen cars at two locations on August 31, 2016; possession for sale or supply of cannabis and cocaine and possession of fake bank drafts on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 31, 2016 Incident
- 2017-12-12 Publication
Why: Christopher Keeley (53) was involved in the chopping up of stolen vehicles in order to sell the spare parts, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis, all of which were seized by gardai during a search of an industrial lock up in Summerhill, Co Meath; possession of stolen cars at two locations on August 31, 2016; possession for sale or supply of cannabis and cocaine and possession of fake bank drafts on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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