Peter Keating jailed for directing Kinahan crime gang

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Peter Keating was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court on 2 September 2021 to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt backdated the sentence to 1 July 2020, and Keating entered a €100 bond to keep the peace for two years after his release.

Keating pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 2016 and April 2017, within and outside the State. The offence concerned the targeting of James ‘Mago’ Gately during a feud between the Kinahan and Hutch groups.

Keating admitted gathering information and following Gately as part of a failed murder plot. The court heard that he was involved in surveillance of Gately and his family, and that tracker devices were used. Estonian hitman Imre Arakas was brought to Ireland to target Gately and was arrested before the planned attack could be carried out.

Detective Sergeant David Carolan agreed with Keating’s counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, that Keating was taking directions from others. Mr Justice Hunt said Keating was directing those on the ground but was himself subject to directions. The judge also described Keating as a senior frontline member and gave him a 25% discount from a 16-year headline sentence for his early guilty plea.

The judge took account of Keating’s previous positive contribution to the community, a favourable prison governor’s report and his need for regular medical treatment.