Courts / Dublin / Report

Drugs offender turned up at innocent man's home and threatened to shoot him

Date
2025-01-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Morrison, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing a realistic imitation firearm after he appeared unannounced at Geoffrey Keating's home, threatening to shoot him. Morrison demanded €30,000 for an alleged drug debt, though Keating had never been involved in drugs. Gardaí found the imitation firearm in Morrison's trouser leg and a small black handgun on the ground. Keating, who had been handcuffed, used his son's weapon to subdue Morrison. Morrison, who has 67 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences and a 12‑year sentence in 2009 for drug possession, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for two years. The court noted Keating's increased security measures, new driving licence, and purchase of a car for family safety. Morrison's defence highlighted his PTSD and rehabilitation efforts. The judge emphasised that the offence was not drug‑related.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drugs offender turned up at innocent man's home and threatened to shoot him. Charges or matters: the possession of a realistic imitation firearm at an address in Finglas, in Dublin on December 6, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 6, 2023 Incident
Christmas Incident
2025-01-17 Publication

Why: Mr Murphy explained that Morrison had a diagnosis of PTSD arising out of his time in St Lawrence's Institution when he was younger and had started on drugs and alcohol at 15 and 16 years of age. CNI source report

Case subjects

Alan Morrison

Defendant

Charges: the possession of a realistic imitation firearm at an address in Finglas, in Dublin on December 6, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: However, he had been sentenced to 12 years in 2009 for possession of drugs for sale or supply. She said that the maximum sentence of five years was appropriate, but imposed a four-year sentence after taking the mitigating factors into consideration.