Channel 7 personality Andrew O’Keefe facing domestic violence charge

By John Buckley

January 31, 2021 — 6.24pm
Sydney Morning Herald
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Channel 7 host and former White Ribbon chairman, Andrew O’Keefe, was arrested by police and charged over an alleged domestic assault on his partner in Sydney overnight.

Arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning, O’Keefe, 49, is due to face Waverley Court on Thursday, when police will allege the former Weekend Sunrise host assaulted his partner, Orly Lavee, at an apartment in Randwick just before 1am.

Channel 7 personality Andrew O’Keefe is facing domestic violence charges. CREDIT:SIMON SCHLUTER

The host of The Chase Australia was arrested on a nearby street at about 3.30am, before being taken to Maroubra police station, where he was charged with common assault. He was granted bail on the condition avoid all contact with Ms Lavee, unless through a lawyer.

In a statement on Sunday, NSW Police said: “Just before 1am, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended a Randwick unit, after reports a 41-year-old woman had allegedly been assaulted in a domestic violence related incident.”

“Following inquiries, police arrested a 49-year-old man nearby about 3.30am.

“He was taken to Maroubra police station where he was charged with common assault (DV) and granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday, 4 February 2021.”

O’Keefe, a former lawyer, and son of former NSW Supreme Court justice, Barry O’Keefe, was a founding member of the domestic violence charity, the White Ribbon Foundation, where he served as chairman in 2017. The organisation went into liquidation in 2019.

O’Keefe was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his service to television and charity work.

Seven West Media has been approached for comment.