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Sunday World
3 days ago
- General
- Sunday World
Rihanna's ex-bodyguard slams ‘ridiculous' justice system after appeal victory
Images of chalk depictions revealed Images of the symbols, three large depictions of the letters 'xe' can be published by this newspaper for the first time today. Last month, Mr. Keating successfully had his conviction for criminal damage, arising from the incident on Mellows Road on May 9th, 2022, overturned in the District Court Appeals Court. 'The whole thing was ridiculous,' Mr. Keating, who survived a shooting attempt on his life last year, told the Sunday World. 'I drew the symbols to protest the treatment of juveniles. 'These were Nordic symbols and for that, for drawing chalk symbols on the grounds, I was arrested, charged and convicted of criminal damage 'At one stage, the piece of chalk was handed in to the judge as an exhibit. 'But the actual CCTV of the incident had disappeared and couldn't be found.' Asked why he had drawn the symbols, Mr. Keating said it was to protest the alleged ill treatment of minors. 'There's been a few cases involving minors and the gardai and I mentioned these in court,' he said. 'It was also claimed I had said the symbols were to remove evil spirits. 'But the garda's own statement shows I never said any such thing.' Read more A copy of Gda Roger's statement seen by the Sunday World mentions only that when he questioned Mr. Keating, the latter explained that 'these symbols were for Gardai protection and he stated: 'I will go to any lengths to protect children.' He said after he arrested Mr. Keating under section 12 of the Criminal Damage Act, Mr. Keating did not make any reply after caution. Mr. Keating told the Sunday World that said he had explained the meaning of the symbols and had actually taken a cup of water from the garda station with him on his release to wash them away. However, it had rained while he was in the station and they were mostly gone by the time he was released. Geoff Keating, pictured with Rihanna Mr. Keating was convicted criminal damage in Blanchardstown District Court on May 27th, 2022 where he was given a fine of €200. Appearing on Mr. Keating's behalf at the District Court Appeals Court last week, barrister Paddy Flynn successfully argued that the appeal was based on issues of proportionality. He said Mr. Keating should not have received a conviction in the first place. Constitutional rights as well as ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) rights protect the rights to protest and freely express oneself and it appeared on any proportionality assessment of the facts that what occurred was not such to be treated as criminal. He said Mr Keating had given strong evidence that he had acted in the most peaceful and non-violent manner in achieving his act of protest. Judge Catherine White said she agreed with the defence in this case that the conviction was disproportionate and allowed Mr Keating's appeal against his conviction.
Sunday World
24-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man who assaulted Garda with hurley and threatened to kill shop staff told to apologise
Repeat offender Connor Manning has had his jail sentence replaced with a fully suspended term on appeal A repeat offender who assaulted a garda while swinging a hurley and targeted city centre shops, where he assaulted, racially abused and threatened to kill staff, has had his jail sentence replaced with a fully suspended term on appeal. Connor Manning (29) was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the injured garda. The defendant, with last address at Spire Hostel, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty to 15 offences including robbery, theft, assault and public order in the District Court. The District Court Appeals Court heard that on August 18, 2022, gardaí responded to an incident where Manning was swinging a hurley on Viking Harbour, Dublin 8. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 24th 2025 He became aggressive and knocked a garda member to the ground, injuring her and lifting a nail from her finger. He continued to act aggressively and kicked the number plate off of a garda patrol vehicle before being arrested for assault contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. On January 14, 2023, Garda responded to four incidents throughout the day at the Circle K shop on Nassau Street, Dublin 2. On the first occasion, Manning threatened to kill staff if they pressed the panic alarm before stealing four cans of alcohol. He later re-entered, stole a further eight cans of Budweiser and said: 'If you press that button I will kill you'. He entered a further two times to take alcohol and cigarettes. Manning also faced charges relating to punching a man in Temple Bar and demanding he go to an ATM with him to give him money in the early hours of April 20, 2023. On August 19, 2024, gardaí were called to the Tesco store on Fleet Street, Dublin 2 where Manning attempted to steal two packs of cider. He was racially abusive to staff members and threw a pack of cider at one worker, striking them in the head. Defence counsel for Manning, Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL, said that his client had turned to drug abuse due to a tough life that 'he has found difficult to escape'. She said he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his actions and was open to residential drug treatment. Judge James O'Donohoe said he did not have sympathy with regard to the assault on the garda with a hurley. However, he noted Manning's troubled background in coming to his decision. The judge said he would suspend Manning's eight-month custodial sentence for two years on the conditions that he engages with drug addiction services, remains outside of the city centre area and writes a letter of apology to the injured garda. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Man who assaulted garda with hurley and threatened to kill shop staff told to write letter of apology as his sentence is overturned
Connor Manning (29) was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the injured garda. The defendant, with last address at Spire Hostel, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty to 15 offences including robbery, theft, assault and public order in the District Court. The District Court Appeals Court heard that on August 18, 2022, gardaí responded to an incident where Manning was swinging a hurley on Viking Harbour, Dublin 8. He became aggressive and knocked a garda member to the ground, injuring her and lifting a nail from her finger. He continued to act aggressively and kicked the number plate off of a garda patrol vehicle before being arrested for assault contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. On January 14, 2023, Garda responded to four incidents throughout the day at the Circle K shop on Nassau Street, Dublin 2. On the first occasion, Manning threatened to kill staff if they pressed the panic alarm before stealing four cans of alcohol. He later re-entered, stole a further eight cans of Budweiser and said: 'If you press that button I will kill you'. He entered a further two times to take alcohol and cigarettes. Manning also faced charges relating to punching a man in Temple Bar and demanding he go to an ATM with him to give him money in the early hours of April 20, 2023. On August 19, 2024, gardaí were called to the Tesco store on Fleet Street, Dublin 2 where Manning attempted to steal two packs of cider. He was racially abusive to staff members and threw a pack of cider at one worker, striking them in the head. Defence counsel for Manning, Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL, said that his client had turned to drug abuse due to a tough life that 'he has found difficult to escape'. She said he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his actions and was open to residential drug treatment. Judge James O'Donohoe said he did not have sympathy with regard to the assault on the garda with a hurley. However, he noted Manning's troubled background in coming to his decision. The judge said he would suspend Manning's eight-month custodial sentence for two years on the conditions that he engages with drug addiction services, remains outside of the city centre area and writes a letter of apology to the injured garda.
Sunday World
17-05-2025
- Sunday World
Former Rihanna bodyguard who drew 'symbols' outside garda station has conviction overturned
Geoffrey Keating drew "ancient symbols" on the ground outside a garda station to "remove evil spirits' The one-time head of security for pop star Rihanna, who drew "ancient symbols" on the ground outside a garda station to "remove evil spirits", has had his conviction for criminal damage overturned on appeal. Geoffrey Keating (47), with an address at Woodbank Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11 originally pleaded not guilty to criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act, 1991 in the District Court. The District Court Appeals Court last week heard that Mr Keating had drawn three large 'XE' symbols in blue chalk on the ground outside Finglas Garda Station on Mellows Road, Dublin 11, on the evening of May 9, 2022. Geoffrey Keating and Rihanna. News in 90 Seconds - May 17th Garda Joseph Rogers said Mr Keating told him that if garda members passed over the symbols, it would 'remove evil spirits to protect the children of Finglas' and that he would 'go to any lengths to protect children'. Garda Rogers arrested Mr Keating for criminal damage and he was later convicted in Blanchardstown District Court on May 27, 2022 where he was given a fine of €200. Geoffrey Keating. Giving evidence today, Mr Keating told the court that he is a 'spiritualist', adding that the old symbols hold a lot of meaning to him and they are similar to his Nordic tattoos. He said that he had no intention of doing criminal damage and that his aim was to draw the symbols and explain their meaning to gardaí. Mr Keating, who was pop star Rihanna's head of security in 2012 and 2013, explained that he believes the symbols 'stop bad things from happening'. Keating said that his intention was to make a protest statement 'to stop the abuse of disadvantaged minors' and that he engages in a lot of advocacy for children in his local community. 'I didn't know it was illegal. To me it was akin to doing hopscotch on the ground,' he told the appeals court. Defence counsel for Mr Keating, Patrick Flynn BL, said that the conviction for criminal damage was a disproportionate reaction to a peaceful act of protest. Judge Catherine White said she agreed with the defence in this case that the conviction was disproportionate and allowed Mr Keating's appeal against his conviction. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Former Rihanna bodyguard who drew 'ancient symbols' outside garda station ‘to remove evil spirits' has conviction overturned
Geoffrey Keating (47), with an address at Woodbank Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11 originally pleaded not guilty to criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act, 1991 in the District Court. The District Court Appeals Court last week heard that Mr Keating had drawn three large 'XE' symbols in blue chalk on the ground outside Finglas Garda Station on Mellows Road, Dublin 11, on the evening of May 9, 2022. Garda Joseph Rogers said Mr Keating told him that if garda members passed over the symbols, it would 'remove evil spirits to protect the children of Finglas' and that he would 'go to any lengths to protect children'. Garda Rogers arrested Mr Keating for criminal damage and he was later convicted in Blanchardstown District Court on May 27, 2022 where he was given a fine of €200. Giving evidence today, Mr Keating told the court that he is a 'spiritualist', adding that the old symbols hold a lot of meaning to him and they are similar to his Nordic tattoos. He said that he had no intention of doing criminal damage and that his aim was to draw the symbols and explain their meaning to gardaí. Mr Keating, who was pop star Rihanna's head of security in 2012 and 2013, explained that he believes the symbols 'stop bad things from happening'. Mr Keating said that his intention was to make a protest statement 'to stop the abuse of disadvantaged minors' and that he engages in a lot of advocacy for children in his local community. 'I didn't know it was illegal. To me it was akin to doing hopscotch on the ground,' he told the appeals court. Defence counsel for Mr Keating, Patrick Flynn BL, said that the conviction for criminal damage was a disproportionate reaction to a peaceful act of protest. Judge Catherine White said she agreed with the defence in this case that the conviction was disproportionate and allowed Mr Keating's appeal against his conviction.
