DJ Carey, a former Hurling star, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding his friends, family, and supporters of nearly €400,000 under false pretenses of needing cancer treatment. Carey, from Maynooth, Co Kildare, admitted guilt to 10 charges of deceiving individuals into giving him money by falsely claiming to be battling cancer.
In a court appearance at the Criminal Court of Justice in Dublin, Judge Martin Nolan criticized Carey for taking advantage of people’s trust, emphasizing the seriousness and reprehensibility of his actions. The fraudulent scheme involved 13 victims, including notable personalities like Denis O’Brien, Owen and Ann Conway, Mark and Sharon Kelly, and others.
Despite expressing doubt about Carey’s likelihood of reoffending, Judge Nolan highlighted the irreparable damage done to Carey’s reputation. The 52-year-old athlete, once celebrated for his successful GAA career with Kilkenny, was handed his custodial sentence today and led away from the courtroom.
Carey, attired in a purple jacket, navy shirt, and black shoes, faced the consequences of his deceit as he received his sentence for the fraudulent cancer scam.