Hurling star DJ Carey jailed over fake cancer claims

DJ Carey is a five-time All-Ireland winner and multiple All-Star

Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

The 54-year-old, who previously resided at Newtown, Maynooth, County Kildare, pleaded guilty in July to 10 charges related to defrauding people out of money while pretending to have cancer.

A five-time All-Ireland winner and multiple All-Star, Carey is one of the most decorated and acclaimed hurlers to ever play the sport.

The sentencing had been adjourned last week after the court was told he was in hospital.

A judge told the court he could not imagine a more reprehensible fraud.

He said Carey had exploited people's good nature, Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported.

The 10 counts that Carey pleaded guilty to involved a total of 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien, one of Ireland's wealthiest entrepreneurs

The 10 counts that Carey pleaded guilty to involved a total of 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien, one of Ireland's wealthiest entrepreneurs.

O'Brien gave Carey more than €125,000 (£109,500) and provided him with accommodation and transport.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had heard Carey defrauded 22 people out of a total of almost €400,000 (£350,000).

About €44,000 (£38,500) has been repaid.

Carey's defence counsel had told the court he had suffered a stunning fall from grace and was now something of a pariah.

Seattle treatment

Other victims included a cousin of Carey's as well as friends and work colleagues and people who knew of him through his sporting career.

There was no record of Carey ever having had cancer or being treated abroad, when gardaí (Irish police) investigated.

The court heard Carey had told most of his victims that he was receiving treatment in Seattle in the US and needed funds for treatment.

In some cases, he told them he was due a payment from the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a negligence case he claimed he had taken against St James's Hospital in Dublin.

A police sergeant told prosecuting counsel that a Seattle hospital Carey claimed to have been treated in had no record of him ever being treated there.

His GP had no record of him ever having cancer.

There was no record of any outstanding claim against the HSE or the hospital, and he had not travelled to the US since 2015.

When questioned in December 2022, Carey admitted he had made up the story about being sick with cancer to buy himself time as he had a substantial debt with Allied Irish Banks (AIB) and that he had asked people for financial help.

This picture was widely shared on messaging platforms and social media when the charges were first brought against DJ Carey.

The image appears to show DJ Carey with an iPhone cable taped to his face.

DJ Carey's legal team said that Carey has been the subject of "ridicule and derision" and described the images as 'completely fake and false.'

'Fallen into a rut'

Carey's defence lawyer said the former hurler had "fallen into a rut" with financial difficulties after his business collapsed and should have reached out for help in a legitimate way.

The court heard there was no immediate prospect of the former hurler being able to repay his victims.

However, his defence lawyer said he was instructed to offer a "heartfelt, sincere apology" to every victim.

He added that Carey was suffering from a chronic heart condition.

He said that going to prison was an enormous punishment and urged the court not to impose a disproportionate sentence.

The judge said those who had given Carey money had responded to him in a generous way in what they thought was his hour of need and he applauded them.

He told Carey a custodial term was inevitable.