Rihanna's former head of security has criminal damage conviction overturned

Fionnuala Walsh

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 on Friday 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 9th, 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 27th, 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.