An Irish sportsman once celebrated as a hurling legend has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for tricking friends, family, and even high-profile figures out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by faking a cancer diagnosis.
DJ Carey, 54, a former Kilkenny hurler nicknamed the “Maradona of hurling,” admitted to deceiving people into giving him £345,000 by pretending he was seriously ill.
The Shocking Deception
Carey’s ruse was both shocking and bizarre. He reportedly sent photos to victims that appeared to show medical tubes in his nose—but closer inspection revealed an iPhone cable was being used to simulate treatment.
The scam led to ten counts of inducing people to give him money, with a further eight counts considered during sentencing at Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday.
Judge Martin Nolan highlighted that while many frauds prey on human greed, Carey’s actions were different:
“This is not the case here, Mr Carey exploited the good nature of people,” the judge said, emphasizing that those who gave him money were simply trying to help someone in apparent need.
A Fall from Sporting Glory
Carey was described in court as a formidable athlete in both hurling and handball, earning recognition as one of the most celebrated hurlers in history.
He won five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards, becoming an idol to aspiring players.
When he retired in 2006, he was widely celebrated as a legend of the game.
The judge acknowledged Carey’s fame while underscoring the betrayal:
“The people who gave him money were good-natured people who wanted to help a person in need.
It is very hard to know what motivated Mr Carey.”
Since pleading guilty, Carey has faced public ridicule and disgrace, and the court noted that his reputation will likely never recover.
The Scale of the Fraud
Among Carey’s victims was billionaire Denis O’Brien, along with dozens of others.
The total amount he collected reached €394,127 and $13,000, yet he repaid only €44,203.
Authorities were first tipped off by a financial institution when an elderly customer attempted to transfer funds to Carey.
He had claimed he would reimburse donors from over a million euros in compensation he said he was due from a civil action against the Health Service Executive (HSE), alleging an “excessive dose of radiation” during treatment at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
The court found no such civil action existed, meaning most of the money was never intended to be repaid.
Judge Condemns the Fraud
Judge Nolan called the scheme “a reprehensible form of fraud,” comparing it to deceiving multiple elderly people.
He acknowledged mitigating factors, noting Carey has no prior convictions, a history of work, and previous contributions to society.
The judge also suggested Carey is unlikely to offend again, though he cautioned that no court could be certain.
Carey appeared expressionless in court, wearing the same clothes as when he was taken into custody.
The verdict marks a stark contrast to his former status as a beloved sports figure, showing how quickly fame and public trust can be destroyed by deception.