Former Kilkenny hurling great DJ Carey has been jailed for an effective five and a half years for inducing 22 people to give him about €400,000 to fund treatment for cancer that he did not have.
Judge Martin Nolan said he “could not imagine a more reprehensible fraud than to tell people you have cancer and extort money on that basis”.
Probably the only other one on that level would be to deceive very elderly people, he said.
Carey (54), of The Drive, Newtown, Maynooth, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to 10 charges last July.
The judge said had pleaded guilty to offences involving deception, he claimed he had cancer and needed treatment in the US, the chosen hospital was in Seattle. He had also claimed he had a civil action against HSE and anticipated a positive outcome and would repay monies from that.
Carey promised all the injured parties the monies would be repaid but it turned out he did not have cancer and had not sued the HSE and there would be no proceeds from that, Judge Nolan said.
It seems most of the monies Carey received were not repaid and he probably gained about €349,000, the judge said.
This was a “very low” fraud involving
Continue Reading on The Irish Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.