Andrew O’Keefe breaks down in tears during emotional appearance for breaching a court order
Andrew O’Keefe breaks down in tears during an emotional appearance for violating a court order
- O’Keefe charged with violating a court order
- He tearfully said he would make a “sincere effort” to get off the drugs
Disputed former TV presenter Andrew O’Keefe got emotional when he promised a magistrate he would make “sincere efforts” to abstain from drugs after suddenly making a plea in court.
Police were called to a Point Piper unit in Sydney’s eastern suburbs at around 11:30 pm on 19 August following reports that O’Keefe was at the home in violation of a court order.
The 51-year-old was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with breaching a restraining order on a warrant of arrest.
The next day he was refused bail by the Parramatta Bail Court, setting the case for 30 August.
But O’Keefe’s attorney Sharon Ramsden entered court Friday over an unexpected entry, telling magistrate Greg Grogin that her client would file a plea of guilty.
Andrew O’Keefe faced court on Friday, where he said he had made a ‘sincere effort’ to abstain from drugs
O’Keefe appeared in court from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Center in his prison green and short beard after six days on remand.
His brother sat in the front of the public gallery as Ms Ramsden told the court that a warrant had been issued between O’Keefe and the woman who had been living in the Point Piper unit since June 2021.
She told the court that O’Keefe told police why he was at the property, from court documents showing he said he was there to collect his belongings.
“There was no contact between the parties and she returned to the property at 11.45pm, having taken a walk,” Ms Ramsden said.
Ms Ramsden asked the magistrate to consider sentencing O’Keefe to a warrant of parole without conviction.
Police prosecutor Michael Cleaver did not oppose the verdict.
Magistrate Grogin addressed O’Keefe directly, asking if the former television host could abstain from drugs not prescribed by his doctors.
“One thing I don’t do is I try not to make people fail… can you fulfill that obligation?” asked the magistrate.
O’Keefe replied, “Your Honor, I can assure you that this will be my sincere effort.”
The former Deal or No Deal television show host pleaded guilty to violating a prohibition restriction on a detained warrant of violence
The court was told there was no threat, harm or violence, or any interaction between O’Keefe and the woman in the property.
“The police wondered why he was there. He said he knew he wasn’t supposed to be there, but he was gathering his belongings,” Mr Grogin told the court.
“The woman and her family were not present at the address, no one else was present … she arrived after a walk.”
Mr Grogin said the breach was the ‘lower end’ of the range of objective seriousness and that the only aggravating factor is that he was out on bail for assault related to the same woman.
The assault case is being partially heard by the court and will return in November.
Mr. Grogin sentenced O’Keefe to a parole without conviction, for which O’Keefe tearfully thanked the magistrate.
“Mr. O’Keefe, on a personal level, you have been through difficult times,” the magistrate said.
“You will have good days and bad and you will move forward and backward, you must comply with court orders … the leniency will not be extended forever.”
O’Keefe will be released from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Center. His lawyer and brother declined to comment outside of court.