Sentencing of former 2FM DJ for money-laundering adjourned to allow her continue alcohol treatment

Nikki Hayes has been attending a residential treatment centre and a key worker was present in court to confirm she has remained alcohol-free since the case was last adjourned

Nikki Hayes, 44, real name Eimear Black O’Keeffe, of The Way, Hunter’s Run, Clonee, Dublin 15, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Monday. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

A former radio DJ who had €15,000 lodged into her bank account as part of a money-laundering scam has had her case further adjourned while she undergoes alcohol treatment.

Nikki Hayes, 44, whose real name is Eimear Black O’Keeffe, of The Way, Hunter’s Run, Clonee, Dublin 15, previously pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account within the State on November 5, 2020.

Two further counts of possessing €2,600 and €2,400 as the proceeds of crime in her account on November 6, 2020, were taken into consideration by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

At a hearing last year, the court heard O’Keeffe was “genuinely vulnerable’ and struggling with her mental health at the time. The sentencing in her case was delayed last November after she suffered a fall.

On Monday, Keith Spencer BL, defending, said O’Keeffe has been attending a residential treatment centre and a key worker was present in court to confirm she has remained alcohol-free since the case was last adjourned.

He handed in €2,500 as a token of remorse, which he said was provided by someone who O'Keeffe previously helped in their career and who now wanted to help her in turn.

The court heard this clears the losses incurred as a result of O'Keeffe's offending.

Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to October 7 to allow O'Keeffe further time to continue with her alcohol treatment. She noted defence counsel was seeking that the matter be dealt with by way of Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, which would mean O'Keeffe would avoid a conviction.

O'Keeffe was in court on Monday for the brief hearing.

The court has previously heard she was belatedly diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, with defence counsel saying she had been “preyed upon” by others operating a sophisticated money-laundering scam.

O’Keeffe’s marriage had broken down, and she had reached “rock bottom,” counsel added.

Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, previously said the offence came to light after the injured party in the case got a text message on his phone on the day purporting to be from Permanent TSB.

The message said the man had “paired with a new device” and should click on the enclosed link, so he followed these prompts and was brought to his PTSB bank account.

Three sums of €2,600, €2,400 and €10,000, totalling €15,000, were then withdrawn from the man’s account and went into O’Keeffe’s account, the court heard.

Over the next 24 hours, withdrawals of the money were made from Revolut and through a number of ATM transactions in Liffey Valley.

O’Keeffe was arrested and interviewed the following March and co-operated fully with gardaí, the court heard.

Mr Spencer said O’Keeffe was in debt to the tune of €53,000 at the time of the offence, owing money to RTÉ and to various institutions in personal loans.

Counsel said O’Keeffe had built up a very successful radio career over 24 or 27 years, starting at the age of 15, under the pseudonym of Nikki Hayes.

She had worked at RTÉ for eight years and also for Spin 103, Classic Hits and East Coast FM, but is no longer employed in radio as a direct consequence of this case, counsel said.