Courts / Dublin / Report

Thief who stole priest's car and fitted it with fake registration plates gets 18 month sentence

Summary

Kevin O'Keeffe, aged 30, stole a priest's Toyota Avensis by entering the curate's home while it was being repainted, taking the keys and later smashing the window of an identical vehicle to steal a sat nav, tax, insurance and NCT discs. He fitted the stolen discs onto the priest's car and used fake registration plates that matched the stolen discs. O'Keeffe had been on bail for a false imprisonment offence when he committed these acts. He pleaded guilty to theft of car keys, unlawful possession of a vehicle, criminal damage and stealing property. With 86 prior convictions, Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18‑month custodial sentence, to commence after the five‑year term for the false imprisonment case expires. The court noted O'Keeffe's cooperation and efforts to reform, but the sentence was deemed necessary due to his extensive criminal record.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Thief who stole priest's car and fitted it with fake registration plates gets 18 month sentence. Charges or matters: theft of car keys and unlawful possession of a vehicle at St Laurence O'Toole Church, Seagrange Road, Baldoyle on July 23, 2013; criminal damage and stealing property at Central Park, Leopardstown Road, Baldoyle on August 2, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 23, 2013 Incident
• August 2, 2013 Incident
• August 22, 2013 Other
• 2015-07-28 Publication

Why: Judge Nolan said he was happy that O'Keeffe was taking steps to reform himself while in custody but added that he had to impose a custodial sentence because of the criminal record. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report