Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-2FM star who laundered scam cash avoids criminal conviction
Summary
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes (real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe), aged 44, avoided a criminal conviction after pleading guilty to possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account. The money, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400, was withdrawn from an injured party's account and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. She had six prior convictions for minor road‑traffic offences and had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice, once after a fall and once to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. O'Keeffe has since completed residential treatment, is drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and has repaid the full amount to the victim. Judge Martina Baxter discharged her under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning she will not incur a criminal conviction. The court noted her vulnerability, mental‑health diagnoses, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. O'Keeffe is no longer employed in radio and is pursuing further training and an accountancy course.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-2FM star who laundered scam cash avoids criminal conviction. Charges or matters: possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account within the State on November 5, 2020. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- November 5, 2020 Incident
- November 6, 2020 Incident
- 2024-10-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account within the State on November 5, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Hayes (44), whose real name is Eimear Black O'Keeffe, has six previous convictions for minor road traffic offences and had had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice – once after she fell and on another occasion to allow her seek treatment for alcohol addiction.
Accused
Charges: possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account within the State on November 5, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Hayes (44), whose real name is Eimear Black O'Keeffe, has six previous convictions for minor road traffic offences and had had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice – once after she fell and on another occasion to allow her seek treatment for alcohol addiction.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision
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