Former radio DJ made 'a complete turnaround', court told

A former radio DJ who allowed €15,000 to be lodged into her bank account as part of a money-laundering scam will not serve any sentence after a judge said there had been "a complete turnaround" in her efforts to rehabilitate.

Nikki Hayes, whose real name is Eimear Black O'Keeffe, of The Way, Hunter's Run, Clonee, Dublin 15, had last year pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as the proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account in November 2020.

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

Sentencing had been adjourned to allow her to engage in a treatment programme for alcohol addiction.

Judge Martina Baxter described Ms O'Keefe's efforts to address her addiction and mental health issues along with her engagement in training and education as "impressive".

While early probation reports had described her as lacking in insight and at high risk of reoffending, there had been a "complete turnaround" in recent months, the judge said.

The court was told Ms O'Keefe had attended a seventh month residential programme for addiction and was now in an aftercare programme.

She had also embarked on new studies in health and wellness.

While her role in the scam - allowing her bank account to be used - was menial, it was necessary and she was useful, the judge noted.

However she said Ms O'Keeffe was a genuinely vulnerable person and had been taken advantage of at the time. The court was told the money had been repaid and she had not gained financially.

The judge said it was a "clearly organised crime" and fraud scams were persistent and ever changing. She said the appropriate sentence, taking into account her guilty plea and cooperation was one of 18 months.

The judge said she had been asked by Defence Counsel Keith Spencer to defer sentence but as Ms O'Keeffe had made an impressive turnaround in her rehabilitation she would discharge her from the indictment.

The decision means she will not serve any sentence or have a criminal record.

Defence Counsel Keith Spencer said Ms O'Keefe wanted to thank all those who had come to her assistance since her first court appearance last year and said his client had received "an outpouring of compassion" from her industry.