Gardaí have opened an investigation after a man who formerly worked as a bodyguard for singer Rihanna was injured in a shooting in Finglas, Dublin on Wednesday.
The target, named locally as Geoffrey Keating, has for years claimed to be under threat from local criminals who wrongly believe he supplied information to An Garda Síochána.
The 46-year-old Dubliner, who is based in Finglas, was head of security for Rihanna in 2012 and 2013 before he and his partner became involved in a dispute with the artist, resulting in litigation.
Gardaí on Wednesday confirmed they were investigating an incident in which a firearm was discharged on Woodbank Drive at about 10.30am.
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The injured man was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown to be treated for injuries “believed to be non-life-threatening at this time”, the force said in a statement.
The area where the incident occurred was sealed-off and gardaí appealed to anyone who was there between 9am and 10.30am on Wednesday to contact Finglas Garda station. They are especially keen to speak to anyone who has video footage, including dashcam recordings, taken in the area around that time.
In 2014, Mr Keating claimed he was defamed in a series of false statements contained in an email sent by Rihanna in July 2013 to him and his partner. Mr Keating denied the allegations made against him, saying the statements in the email gravely injured his reputation and his business.
He launched proceedings seeking damages for alleged defamation over the email and also sought orders including one directing that Rihanna publish a correction of the alleged defamation.
However, a notice of discontinuance was lodged in the case in March 2015 bringing the proceedings to an end.
Last year, proceedings taken by Mr Keating’s partner, Dana Kavanagh (49), against Rihanna over the 2013 email and another communication were settled. She had also sued over a phone call the singer allegedly made to Ms Kavanagh’s sister-in-law in relation to the same matter.
Ms Kavanagh had claimed a business she built up with Mr Keating, called Geoff Keating Media, had been destroyed by the allegations.
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