Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9782Theft, burglary and criminal damage · Co. Dublin

Keith Delaney pleads guilty to Dublin thefts, burglaries and criminal damage

Keith Delaney, a 41-year-old man, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple counts of theft, one count of criminal damage and two counts of burglary. The offences took place at various locations around Dublin between December 2024 and September 2025, including a music school, hotels in Dublin 4, a nursing home in Sandymount and a house in Ballsbridge. Delaney was on bail for all five offences when he committed them and has 346 previous convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement from a retired nun, and the case was adjourned for a probation report.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Delaney pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft, one count of criminal damage and two counts of burglary.
  • Delaney stole four guitars from the music room of a school and sold them for €120.
  • A phone worth €200 was taken during a hotel intrusion and was never recovered, and a laptop and tablet worth a combined €1,653 were taken from the Grand Hotel.
  • A week after the Grand Hotel thefts, a car at the hotel had its passenger window smashed.
  • Delaney entered the bedrooms of seven sleeping residents at a nursing home.
  • The following day an intruder entered a woman's room in a house on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge.
Where
The offences took place at various locations around Dublin, including a music school, hotels in Dublin 4, a nursing home in Sandymount and a house in Ballsbridge.
When
  • The offences occurred between December 2024 and September 2025.
  • On 12 December 2024 Delaney entered a music school twice, and on 15 January 2025 gardaí attended a Dublin 4 hotel after an intruder entered a guest's room.
  • On 6 August 2025 gardaí attended the Grand Hotel after a laptop and tablet were taken, and on 1 September 2025 a man was found going in and out of residents' bedrooms at a Sandymount nursing home.
Investigation
Delaney was identified from CCTV footage and his home was searched.
Charges
Delaney was on bail for all five offences when he committed them.
Other details
  • Delaney has 346 previous convictions.
  • A victim impact statement from a retired nun said she no longer feels safe in her own home, and gardaí agreed that the early guilty pleas were of value to them and the injured parties.
Cause
Delaney committed the thefts to fund drug addictions.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and adjourned for a probation report; the court report is dated 1 May 2026 in one source and 14 May 2026 in its byline.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDelaney pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft, one count of criminal damage and two counts of burglary. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDelaney stole four guitars from the music room of the school. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA phone worth €200 was taken during the hotel intrusion and was never recovered. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA laptop and tablet worth a combined €1,653 were taken from the Grand Hotel. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA week later a car at the Grand Hotel had its passenger window smashed. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDelaney entered the bedrooms of seven sleeping residents at the nursing home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe following day an intruder entered a woman's room in a house on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at various locations around Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred between December 2024 and September 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOn 12 December 2024 Delaney entered a music school twice. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOn 15 January 2025 gardaí were asked to attend a hotel in Dublin 4 where an intruder had entered a guest's room. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOn 6 August 2025 gardaí attended the Grand Hotel in Dublin 4 after a laptop and tablet were taken. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOn 1 September 2025 a man was found going in and out of residents' bedrooms at a nursing home in Sandymount. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationDelaney was identified from CCTV footage and his home was searched. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeDelaney was on bail for all five offences when he committed them. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDelaney has 346 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDelaney sold the guitars for €120. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDelaney committed the thefts to fund drug addictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement from a retired nun said she no longer feels safe in her own home. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí agreed that the early guilty pleas were of value to them and the injured parties. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Retired nun 'no longer feels safe' after man broke into her home, court hears

    Court report on Delaney's guilty pleas. It sets out the individual incidents (music school, hotels, nursing home and a house in Ballsbridge), the 346 previous convictions, his bail status at the time, the victim impact statement, and the adjournment for a probation report.

    accused, Keith Delaney, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Delaneyvictim, Julie Doran, female, irish (judged from name)Julie Doranvictim, malevictim, female