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'Not a criminal mastermind': jail for 'patsy' who left €527k in cocaine outside girlfriend's house

Summary

Lewis O'Keeffe, 22, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of possessing controlled drugs and nearly €30,000 in cash. Gardaí seized cocaine worth €2,500 inside a house on O'Moore Road and an additional 7.5 kg in a van outside the house, giving a street value of over €527,000. O'Keeffe admitted he did not own the drugs but was aware of them, claiming a drug debt of €31,000. He had removed his tax and insurance discs from his car and placed them in the van. His defence counsel described him as a "patsy" or "fall guy" in the operation, noting his young age and family background. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that O'Keeffe had a low level of culpability and had been under severe pressure, concluding that young people can make bad decisions under pressure.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Not a criminal mastermind': jail for 'patsy' who left €527k in cocaine outside girlfriend's house. Charges or matters: multiple counts of possessing controlled drugs and almost €30,000 in cash on July 5 last year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 5 Incident
• 2024-05-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report