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Pregnant woman held at knife point by convicted killer, court hears

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek O'Keeffe, aged 39, pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and one attempted robbery at three petrol stations in November 2013. He stole cash from a Maxol Garage on Tymon Road, a Discount Fuels on Fortunestown Road, and a Topaz on Greenhill Road. During the incidents he threatened a security guard with a syringe and held a pregnant employee, Anna Zajac, at a 23‑inch knife point, forcing her to open tills. Zajac reported feeling emotionally destroyed and fearing for her unborn child after the robbery. Garda Simon Whelan testified that O'Keeffe was chased over ten garden walls before being tackled and captured. O'Keeffe's 36 prior convictions include manslaughter, assault, and robbery. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody to be sentenced next October.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pregnant woman held at knife point by convicted killer, court hears. Charges or matters: two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery in three different petrol stations over four days in November 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 2013 Adjournment
• November 23, 2013 Incident
• November 27 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 25 Other
• November 23 Other
• 2015-03-02 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report