‘They want me dead’: Ex-bodyguard to the stars says there’s €15k hit on his head (2024)

The 46-year-old alleged the threat against him is linked to false claims circulating in Dublin branding him a garda informant.

Mr Keating, whose most high-profile role in private security saw him employed as head of security on pop singer Rihanna’s Diamonds tour in 2012 and 2013, said he is going public as he does not believe the matter is being taken seriously by authorities.

He told the Sunday World two separate individuals, one of whom was recently released from prison, informed him of the existence of the threat last weekend.

“Two people said this to me in two days,” he said.

Mr Keating said he was given a name of the individual behind the threat by a former prisoner who was recently released from a prison in the capital.

“He said this individual is telling people I’ve been an informant to the guards for years,” he said.

“That I had seizures taken off people – mad, mad stuff!

“And he said they were after putting a big bill on me to have me killed and to have my house burned.”

Mr Keating said the amount of money wasn’t specified but he believes it to be in the region of €15,000.

He also said the former prisoner’s claims mirrored those of a separate individual who had contacted him the previous day.

“He said ‘I hope you’re alright. I hear they’re saying a lot of things about you’.”

Keating said he had contacted gardaí on numerous occasions by phone and email after being told of the alleged threat but hasn’t received a response.

“I’m very worried about this,” he said. “Very worried.

“I’m prepared but, also, I’d be stupid if I wasn’t worried. I’ve gone back into security mode in my house.

“I have top-of-the-range CCTV around the house so I have all approaches to the house covered.

“But it’s still hugely worrying.

“I believe this threat is very credible.

“If I was advising a family who were in this situation, I’d be advising them to do a whole load to shore up security.

“People should not be put under this level of threat!”

A source this week confirmed to the Sunday World that gardaí in Blanchardstown had received notification of the alleged threat from Mr Keating and said the matter is being followed up.

He insisted all such reports by members of the public are assessed by gardaí and that a report of this nature would not be ignored.

After a formal query in relation to the matter was put to the Garda Press Office, a spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána does not comment on security arrangements for individuals or in general.

“Any person contacting An Garda Síochána does so in the expectation of privacy and confidentiality.

“An Garda Síochána respects the confidentiality of engagements with private citizens, including correspondence or complaints which may or may not have been received from third parties.

“In general terms any complaint made to An Garda Síochána by any person is assessed and investigated where appropriate.

“An Garda Síochána encourages any victim of crime, to report this to their local garda station.

“Any persons making such a report will be dealt with professionally and will be given the opportunity to discuss their personal circ*mstances and make a decision on how they want to proceed in their own time and at their own pace.

“An Garda Síochána have appointed Crime Prevention Officers in every Garda Division who are available to provide advice on security matters and personal safety. Crime Prevention Officers can be contacted by contacting your local Garda station.”

Mr Keating’s fraught interactions with gardaí have been detailed in court on a number of occasions.

In June of last year, he was found guilty of criminal damage after he wrote “child protection symbols” in chalk on the ground outside a Dublin garda station.

He denied criminal damage, saying the chalk symbols had been washed away by the time he left the garda station.

Keating said he was an advocate for children in the Finglas area.

But Judge Gerard Jones found him guilty and fined him €200 saying he did not accept that gardaí in Finglas would do anything to harm children, “quite the opposite”, he said.

In late 2022, the former bodyguard initiated a legal action against An Garda Síochána, alleging an assault at his home during which he claimed gardaí beat, kicked and hit him with the butt of a gun while he was sleeping at home on April 29, 2020.

Keating, who has a 2018 conviction for harassing a garda, claimed the incident occurred while he was sleeping at home on April 29, 2020.

In the civil action Keating claimed he was asleep when members of the Armed Support Unit and other gardai entered his bedroom.

He claimed he was then “hit with the butt of a gun”.

He further alleged he was then “flipped onto his stomach” and restrained, during which gardaí “beat him with their fists and kicked him”.