Financial alert in summer 2022 led to DJ Carey fraud investigation

Suspicions when customer wanted to transfer large amount of money to Carey

DJ Carey. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

An alert from a financial institution in the summer of 2022 was what sparked the investigation into DJ Carey which on Monday culminated in him being jailed for five and a half years.

Detective Sergeant Mike Bourke told Dublin District Court this financial institution became suspicious when a customer wanted to transfer a large sum of money to Carey.

Separately, an injured party contacted gardaí, alleging that they had given money to the former all-star hurler, believing that he needed treatment for a medical issue, which they discovered might not be true.

Gardaí obtained orders to get Carey’s financial records from AIB.

Carey spoke with one man in February 2021 about this injured party’s wife, who had been diagnosed with cancer.

He said he had the same cancer as the man’s wife — multiple myeloma — and there was later contact between them about treatment in the US.

He later asked them for €4,000, saying he had free treatment as an elite athlete, which had run out and he needed money to pay for more treatment.

They transferred the money to him in September 2021 and the €4,000 was repaid in November 2022.

Carey contacted another man — who had attended the same school — telling him he needed €120,000 to repay a debt to AIB.

He said he was due a €1.8m claim from the HSE after receiving an excessive dose of radiation at St James’ Hospital.

Carey said that if he did not repay AIB in a few days, the deal was off.

This man agreed to give Carey €120,000, making two transfers in late 2020. A repayment plan was agreed, but these repayments were not made.

This man took a civil case against Carey and was awarded judgment for the outstanding amount, but this has not been repaid. He also challenged Carey in person.

The court heard gardaí obtained warrants to search a hotel in Kilkenny that Carey was staying in and his car in December 2022.

Carey invited gardaí into his room, handed over his car keys, phone, and PIN.

A forensic examination of his phone identified text messages with some injured parties in which Carey requested financial assistance and referred to travelling to Seattle for cancer treatment.

These messages also showed excuses Carey used for not repaying the money, including that he was in Seattle or that the banks were at fault.

Notes were also found on the phone relating to the letters provided to Denis O’Brien and his accountant in 2014 and 2015, which purported to be from a Seattle hospital.

Colman Cody, defending, said the victim impact statements read to the court confront his client “personally and directly with the effects of the offending”.

He said the “most egregious” element of the offending was that the people defrauded by his client either knew him personally or by reputation.

Three testimonials were handed to the court. Counsel said these people, who were not named in court, did not condone Carey’s behaviour, but were “happy” to record the more positive aspects of his character.

Mr Cody submitted his client had met the case in an “honourable manner” and is “unlikely to come before the courts in future”.

'I was completely duped by DJ Carey'

During the sentence hearing last Friday, the court heard Denis O’Brien was defrauded of a total of €125,182 by Carey. The businessman said when someone tells you they are seriously ill with cancer and asks for your help, “you do not question their bona fides”.

He said the claim of having cancer was “unconscionable” and described Carey’s actions as “extraordinarily deceitful, manipulative, and cunning”.

“He completely took advantage of my friendship,” the businessman said, noting he and others in his office gave “significant support” to Carey.

“Over the past 30 years, I’ve received hundreds of requests from people and organisations seeking assistance,” said Mr O’Brien. “I’ve never been defrauded by anyone. To my embarrassment, I was completely duped by DJ Carey.”

Another victim impact statement was read to the court by Thomas Butler, an accountant who became friendly with Carey through work.

Thomas Butler leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

Mr Butler gave a total of €16,360 to Carey, after the hurler told him he needed treatment in the US.

Evidence was heard that he genuinely believed Carey was in serious ill health.

He also helped to draft emails and letters, intended to approach businesses asking for financial assistance for Carey. This process did not go ahead, the court heard, and no money was repaid to Mr Butler.

Mr Butler said Carey took advantage of the fact he is “regarded as a very generous individual”. He said the deception made him look like a “very stupid or a very naive individual”.