A former radio DJ who had €15,000 lodged into her bank account as part of a money-laundering scam has had her sentencing adjourned for five months to allow her receive treatment for alcohol addiction.
Nikki Hayes, whose real name is Eimear Black O'Keeffe, of The Way, Hunter’s Run, Clonee, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account within the State on 5 November 2020.
Two further counts of possessing €2,600 and €2,400 as the proceeds of crime in her account on 6 November 2020 were taken into consideration by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The sentence hearing was originally due to be held on Wednesday, but was adjourned until today after the judge was informed that O’Keeffe suffered a fall on Wednesday and attended St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
She was later discharged with a reference to concussion.
At a hearing last week, Garda Neill Gavin agreed with counsel for the defence that O’Keeffe was "genuinely vulnerable" and struggling with her mental health at the time.
Defence counsel Keith Spencer told the judge today that his client has been greatly embarrassed by the publicity that has gone hand-in-hand with this offence because she was a public figure in her career.
He said Ms O Keeffe did not seek character references, but he has independently received an email from her former employer, Kevin Branigan, chief executive officer of Classic Hits.
Mr Branigan said he read the media reports with "some sadness".
He said while it was clear she had some personal difficulties at the time, he said he has never heard a bad word about Ms O’Keeffe.
Her brother-in-law Thomas Hayes also wrote a letter offering support to O’Keeffe going forward, saying "she badly needs to reclaim her life, family and career".
Keith Spencer said O'Keeffe accepts she has difficulty with alcohol and has looked to book herself into the Tigh Linn rehabilitation centre, hoping to get a place before Christmas.
Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing for five months to allow her to receive treatment and have further engagement with probation services.
