Keith O’Neill receives suspended 18-month sentence for breaking into car pound

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Keith O’Neill, of Sheehy Skeffington Meadows, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Ktech Security in Tallaght. The offence took place on December 3, 2021. The proceedings were reported on October 28, 2025.

Prosecuting counsel Rebecca Smith BL told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that his wife’s car had been seized and taken to a secure yard in Tallaght. The car had €5,000 to €7,000 in unpaid tolls linked to it. George Burns BL, defending, said the outstanding toll fines were subsequently paid.

On December 2, O’Neill’s wife phoned to ask for the car back, and the couple later went to the yard. She contacted the yard again the following day. That night, O’Neill was caught on CCTV breaking into the yard and taking the car. He cut through a lock valued at €500. The car was later recovered at a location unconnected with his home address.

Burns said O’Neill was not working and had experienced serious mental health problems in recent years. Judge Martin Nolan suspended an 18-month prison sentence on condition that O’Neill keep the peace and be of good behaviour. He also ordered him to pay €750 to the business owner or to a charity of his choosing.