The Green Post Ireland
Former Kilkenny hurling star DJ Carey has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after admitting to defrauding multiple people by falsely claiming he had cancer and needed money for medical treatment abroad.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that between 2014 and 2022, Carey deceived 22 victims, collecting almost €400,000 under false pretenses. Of that total, only about €44,000 has been repaid.
Judge Martin Nolan, delivering the sentence, described Carey’s crimes as “deeply reprehensible,” noting that he had manipulated people’s compassion and generosity. “This was not a fraud driven by greed on the part of the victims,” the judge said. “Mr Carey exploited the good nature of others.”
A Stunning Fall From Grace
Once celebrated as one of Kilkenny’s greatest hurlers, Carey’s reputation has since been shattered. His defense counsel, Colman Cody, told the court that the 54-year-old’s fall from grace had been “remarkable and devastating,” leaving him “something of a pariah.”
Carey pleaded guilty in July to ten counts of dishonestly inducing payments under false pretenses, while eight additional offenses and two counts of forging hospital documents were taken into consideration.
Judge Nolan acknowledged that Carey has faced public humiliation since the case came to light, but emphasized that his fraudulent behavior warranted a custodial sentence. “His good name will probably never recover,” the judge remarked.
Victims Describe Emotional Toll
The court heard harrowing victim impact statements, detailing the emotional and financial distress Carey caused. Among those defrauded was businessman Denis O’Brien, who gave Carey more than €125,000, along with accommodation and transportation support. O’Brien described Carey’s actions as “extraordinarily deceitful” and said he had been “completely duped.”
Another victim, Thomas Butler, said he gave Carey just over €16,000, money he had set aside from his pension. Butler told the court that both of his parents had died of cancer, making Carey’s deceit “gut-wrenching.” He said the incident left him embarrassed and publicly humiliated, explaining that he felt he had been made to look “stupid and naïve.”
A cousin of Carey’s and several longtime friends were also among those tricked. Margaret and Ger Kirwan, for example, gave him €4,000 after he claimed to have the same type of cancer that Ms. Kirwan was battling at the time. She provided her statement to Gardaí in the midst of her own cancer treatment.
Tom Brennan, a former schoolmate of Carey’s, gave him €120,000—a debt that remains unpaid despite a civil court judgment in Brennan’s favor.
Elaborate Lies and Fake Documents
Carey convinced his victims that he was receiving cancer treatment at a hospital in Seattle, often using forged documents to bolster his story. Gardaí later confirmed that the hospital had no record of Carey ever being treated there, and his GP had no history of him having cancer.
Investigators also found no evidence of a medical negligence claim against St. James’s Hospital or the HSE, as Carey had claimed. It was further revealed that he had not traveled to the United States since 2015.
When questioned in December 2022, Carey admitted he had fabricated the entire illness to buy time while struggling with large debts owed to AIB. Gardaí retrieved text messages on his phone where he referenced “treatment in Seattle” and made repeated pleas for money.
Defense and Sentencing
Defense counsel Cody argued that Carey’s offenses were the result of financial desperation, following the collapse of his business and mounting personal debt. He said Carey should have sought help through legitimate means rather than deceiving those close to him.
Cody told the court that Carey suffers from a chronic heart condition and has recently experienced serious health issues, including hospitalization earlier in the week. He offered a “heartfelt and sincere apology” on Carey’s behalf, acknowledging the damage done to each victim.
However, Judge Nolan said the gravity of the offenses left him no choice but to impose a prison sentence. “These individuals responded to you with generosity in what they believed was your time of need,” he said, adding that the court “applauds their kindness.”
Carey was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, with no possibility of suspension. The maximum penalty for each count was five years, but the judge combined the offenses into a concurrent sentence, reflecting both their severity and Carey’s guilty plea.
A Legacy Tarnished
DJ Carey, once one of Ireland’s most revered sports figures and a national GAA icon, leaves court not as a hero but as a cautionary tale of deceit and downfall. His fraud, built on exploiting empathy and trust, has left a deep scar on his victims — and a lasting stain on his legacy.
