Former Hurling star DJ Carey has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for swindling nearly €400,000 from friends, family, and fans under false pretenses of needing cancer treatment. Carey, a resident of Maynooth, Co Kildare, confessed to deceiving 13 individuals, including notable figures like Denis O’Brien and Owen and Ann Conway, into giving him money based on fabricated claims of a medical condition.
Judge Martin Nolan condemned Carey’s actions as a betrayal of trust, emphasizing the gravity of his deceitful conduct. Despite acknowledging the unlikelihood of Carey reoffending, the judge remarked that the tarnishing of his reputation was irreversible. Carey, who once enjoyed a celebrated career in inter-county GAA with Kilkenny, now faces the consequences of his fraudulent behavior.
Appearing in court attired in a purple jacket, navy shirt, and black shoes, Carey received his sentence and was promptly taken into custody. The case highlights the downfall of a sports icon who abused his connections and influence for personal gain, leaving a trail of disillusionment among those who once held him in high regard.
