Carey preyed on cancer patient like ‘Talented Mr Ripley'
Speaking exclusively to Extra.ie, the Kilkenny mum revealed that she and her husband blew the whistle to the gardaí on Carey and how he had scammed the public out of hundreds of thousands.
Last week, the 54-year-old father of two pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to ten separate charges of defrauding people by inducing them to give him money he said he needed for medical bills by pretending he had cancer. DJ Carey. Pic: ©Fran Veale
There were initially 21 charges against him, and 30 witnesses were due to give evidence about how they were defrauded over an eight-year period between 2014 and 2022, with billionaire businessman Denis O'Brien among them.
Speaking anonymously, the cancer patient's husband revealed the bombshell moment they realised they were not the only ones conned by Carey.
It was while watching an RTÉ documentary about the former hurler's convicted fraudster sister, former international hockey player Catriona, that they realised others could be swindled unless they did something. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
The patient's husband revealed: 'There was a Prime Time programme about Catriona Carey on TV, and his MO [modus operandi] seemed to be the same.
'He was so good. You're talking [about] The Talented Mr Ripley here. He was juggling balls and living up a lot. It was a calculated approach. He was so good in his grooming. He was brilliant. It was the work of an artist, and he was consistent to the end.
'When we saw the programme on the telly we said, 'this has to stop' and we came forward to stop it. We took our responsibilities seriously. And it has stopped.
'People giving him money, these were acts of kindness and decency, and it wasn't reciprocated. We didn't come forward ultimately to see him punished or put behind bars. This had nothing to do with retribution.'
Carey replied 'guilty' to all ten charges last week and was remanded on continuing bail for a sentencing hearing on October 29. Carey's barrister requested legal aid to cover a psychological report that may be necessary, saying there were 'certain mental health issues'.
Judge Ryan granted the application. Carey was not required to address the court again and left shortly after
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