Latest news with #DJCarey
NDTV
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sports Star DJ Carey Faked Cancer Using iPhone Cord To Scam Thousands, Even Tricked A Billionaire
DJ Carey, one of Ireland's most revered hurling legends, has admitted in court to faking cancer to scam thousands of euros from multiple victims, including Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, according to The Metro. Carey, 54, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of deception at Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice, admitting he posed as a cancer patient between 2014 and 2022 to solicit money under false pretences. A now-infamous image allegedly sent to victims shows Carey lying on a bed with an iPhone charging cable taped under his nose, mimicking a nasal oxygen tube, as per the news portal. Regarded as hurling's first true superstar, Carey's legacy includes five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards. But behind the sporting glory was a troubling financial story. In 2011, he faced a court order to repay 7.3 million pounds to Allied Irish Bank, a debt later controversially reduced to just 51,000 pounds in 2018. According to Irish Times, despite claims of serious health issues unrelated to cancer, Carey's deception shocked the nation. He was originally facing 21 fraud charges, and a trial involving 28 prosecution witnesses was scheduled. However, Carey pleaded guilty, and his sentencing is now set for October 29. Carey remains free on bail until sentencing. His legal team acknowledged his heart-related health issues, while the court noted his history of high-profile financial difficulties. This case has drawn comparisons to the infamous Belle Gibson scandal, in which the Australian wellness influencer falsely claimed she had cancer to gain fame and financial support before being fined over $400,000 for deception. Carey's dramatic fall from grace marks one of the most disturbing sports scandals in recent Irish history.
Metro
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Sports star used iPhone cord to pretend he had cancer to scam thousands of people
With a 'tube' up his nose and lying on a 'hospital bed', the photo appears to be of Ireland's most famous sports stars being treated for cancer. There is one problem – he didn't have cancer. DJ Carey, seen as one of the greatest hurlers of all time, has pleaded guilty to pretending to have cancer to trick people into giving him money. The sports legend even conned Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien into giving him money to fund cancer treatment. Carey, 54, pleaded guilty to 10 counts related to defrauding people out of money while pretending to have cancer at the Circuit Court in Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday. The sportsman won five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards in hurling. Hurling is a stick-and-ball field game of ancient Gaelic Irish origin played by men and women. Carey has been described as the sport's 'first superstar' and a 'hurling legend'. However, he was said to have tricked his victims into making a monetary payment to him between 2014 and 2022 after saying he needed money to fund cancer treatment. Since pleading guilty, an image of Carey with 'tubes' up his nose and lying on a 'hospital bed' has resurfaced. The image, thought to have been sent to his victims, appears to show an iPhone cable taped to his face. Carey was charged with inducing him to make a payment to him between January 2014 and late 2022. Carey's defence team told the court that while cancer was referred to in the indictment, the sports star 'does have very genuine health conditions' which required surgery for a heart condition last year. They told the court he must attend check-ups periodically and that evidence from his surgeons can be provided. Despite his legendary status after he retired from hurling, Carey publicly battled financial problems. In May 2011, Allied Irish Bank (AIB) secured an initial debt repayment court order for about £7.3million. However, this debt was then reduced from nearly £8.2million to £51,000 in a settlement with AIB in 2018. In 2015, speaking on RTE's Ray D'Arcy radio show, Carey said: 'I am not one of those who would say 'I don't care' about repaying debt.' 'You borrow money, it should be paid back.' Carey appeared in court in late 2023 charged with 21 counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, with a four-week trial expected to take place this year. He was due to stand trial on deception charges at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. About 28 witnesses were expected to give evidence for the prosecution at trial. But the prosecutor told the court that Carey would be entering guilty pleas, with a sentencing date now set for October 29. Carey has been remanded on bail until then. The hurling star's fall from grace follows a period of celebrity status after retiring from hurling in 2006. Carey's family members are also well-known in the world of Irish sport. His sister, Catriona, was a member of the Ireland women's field hockey team, while his brother Martin was also a hurler. One of the most high-profile cancer-faking scandals unfolded a decade ago with influencer Belle Gibson. In 2015, it was uncovered that the Australian wellness influencer, who had built an online community and profited off the back of selling a story about being diagnosed with cancer, was a fraud. The author of The Whole Pantry mobile app and cookbook claimed to have had malignant brain cancer that she managed through diet, exercise, natural medicine, and alternative medicine therapies. More Trending After an investigation regarding the legitimacy of Gibson's claims that she was donating a sizeable amount of her income to charities, it was discovered she'd lied about her age, personal life and actually having cancer at all. She eventually confessed, admitting that 'none of it's true'. Gibson was convicted in 2017 of engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct and fined $410,000 (£211,000) for breaching consumer laws. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'Beautiful and much-loved' mum and daughter, 6, killed in car crash named MORE: The origin story of Baby Guinness reveals you've been doing the shots all wrong MORE: Irish musician and comedian cancels all of his gigs for the year
The Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
How sports star faked cancer fight by sticking IPHONE WIRE up his nose to con well-wishers into handing over donations
A SPORTS star scammed thousands after posting a picture of an iPhone wire up his nose to fake receiving cancer treatment. DJ Carey - dubbed the 'Maradona of hurling' - shamelessly conned well-wishers into giving him money by pretending to have the cruel disease. 4 4 The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to 10 counts at the Circuit Court in Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday. There were 28 witnesses lined up and ready to give evidence for the prosecution had the case gone to trial. The charges related to 13 different complainants, including one of Ireland's wealthiest businessmen - Denis O'Brien. The 54-year-old was charged with inducing O'Brien to send money between January 2014 and late 2022. Carey's defence lawyer told the court the sports star "does have very genuine health conditions", despite not having cancer. He also mentioned how Carey previously underwent heart surgery for his condition and is frequently assessed. The sportsman was remanded on bail and is due to be sentenced on October 29. Carey, once hailed as one of the best in GAA history, has bagged five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards. He has a total of 34 goals and 195 points from 57 championship games which makes him one of top scorers. On a recent episode of the Crime World podcast, he was described as the "Maradona of hurling". He retired from the game in 2006, but continued to be recognised as an "idol" for young upcoming players. Since his appearance in court this week, shocking photographs of the former Hurling champ have circulated social media. One showed him pretending to lie in a hospital bed with an iPhone wire taped up his nose. It is understood the picture was sent to people he conned between 2014 and 2022, when Carey claimed to need money for cancer treatment. In May 2011, the former sports star was made subject to a debt repayment court order for an eye-watering £7.3million. He managed settle his debt in 2018 with an agreement that meant he only had to pay back less than one per cent of the original total. In 2015, speaking on RTE's Ray D'Arcy radio show, Carey said: "I am not one of those who would say 'I don't care' about repaying debt. "You borrow money, it should be paid whatever extent that can be, I would still be conscious it has to be done". Carey first appeared in court in late 2023 charged with 21 counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. This comes as a mum-of-two faked having terminal cancer to con her distraught partner into giving her thousands of pounds for non-existent treatment. Laura McPherson fabricated stories and sent fake photos at multiple hospitals and specialist visits as she swindled nearly £25,000 from Jon Leonard. But instead of undergoing chemotherapy, she was actually splashing out on breast enhancement procedures and trips abroad, including a stay at an Austrian holistic and weight loss centre. McPherson not only lied to Mr Leonard but also to her friends and even her own family including her distraught 12-year-old daughter, who is now 16. McPherson, from Derby, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to fraud between March 1, 2017, and January 31, 2022. A judge ordered McPherson to be electronically tagged as he imposed a curfew on her to stay at her home from 7pm to 6am every Wednesday to Sunday. He imposed a community order for two years and ordered McPherson to complete 30 days with a probation officer. He said if she breached her terms she would receive an immediate two-and-a-half year prison sentence. Elsewhere, another woman shamelessly used dating apps to find men she could con by faking cancer. Mum-of-one Rebecca Gray made innocent victim Sean Fry send her £10,000. Now he has revealed to Channel 4 how he missed the warning signs in their new series, Love Cheats. How to protect yourself from fraud USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters. Keep your social media accounts private – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters. Deactivate and delete old social media profiles – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you're are not aware of or you have forgotten about. Password protect your devices – Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals. Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place. Take care on public Wi-Fi – Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you're using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking. Think about your offline information too – Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure. 4 4
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
The photo that fooled thousands: How sports star faked having cancer by sticking iPhone wire up his NOSE to con wellwishers
One of Ireland's most renowned sports stars has pleaded guilty to pretending to have cancer to induce people to give him money - and it all centres on a photograph that fooled thousands. DJ Carey, who is widely recognised as one of the greatest hurlers of all time, pleaded guilty to 10 counts at the Circuit Court in Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday. Billionaire Denis O'Brien is among the several people the ex-Kilkenny sportsman induced to pay him money by fraudulently claiming he needed to fund cancer treatment. Carey, 54, is one of the most acclaimed figures in GAA history, having won five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards. When he retired from inter-county hurling in 2006, he was hailed as an 'idol' for young players and a legend of the game. Since his guilty plea, a photograph of the former star has resurfaced on social media, appearing to show him lying in a hospital bed. The image, thought to have been sent to his victims, shows Carey with 'tubes' up his nose - which, on closer inspection, seems to be an iPhone cable taped to his face. Carey was said to have induced his victims to make a monetary payment to him between 2014 and 2022 after fraudulently claiming to have cancer and saying he needed finances to obtain treatment. In relation to Mr O'Brien, he was charged with inducing him to make a payment to him between January 2014 and late 2022. The court heard from Carey's defence team that while cancer was referred to in the indictment, Carey 'does have very genuine health conditions' and required surgery for a heart condition last year. The court heard he needs to attend check-ups periodically and that evidence from his surgeons can be provided. The plea is a remarkable fall from grace from Carey - who enjoyed a celebrity-esque status after retiring from hurling in 2006. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for 15 years, he won five All-Ireland medals and his tally of 34 goals and 195 points from 57 championship games marks him out as one of the top scorers in the history of the game. In a recent episode of the Crime World podcast, he was described as the 'Maradona [referring to footballer Diego Maradona] of hurling' - one of Ireland's native Gaelic games played outside with a stick (hurley) and ball (sliotar). But his history of financial struggle has been well documented as Allied Irish Banks secured an initial debt repayment court order for about £7.3million in May 2011. Carey settled his debt with AIB in 2018 in a settlement that reduced his debt of over €9.5 million to €60,000 - just 0.63 per cent of the amount originally owed. In 2015, speaking on RTE's Ray D'Arcy radio show, Carey said: 'I am not one of those who would say 'I don't care' about repaying debt.' 'You borrow money, it should be paid back,' he said, adding that 'to whatever extent that can be, I would still be conscious it has to be done'. Carey's family members are also well-known in the world of Irish sport. His sister, Catriona, was a member of the Ireland women's field hockey team and the Kilkenny senior camogie team. Meanwhile his brother Martin was also a member of the Kilkenny hurling panel as the substitute goalkeeper. Carey had appeared in court in late 2023 charged with 21 counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, at which point a four-week trial was expected to take place this year. On Wednesday, he arrived at criminal courts of justice where he was due to stand trial on deception charges at the Dublin circuit criminal court. Instead, prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn told the court that a jury would not be required as Mr Carey would be entering guilty pleas. A sentencing date has been set for Wednesday October 29 and Carey was remanded on bail until then. Shockingly, Carey is not the only cancer faker, a fraudster who lies about having the illness to scam funds from concerned well-wishers, to have come from famous origin. In cases that have caused shock and outrage around the world, the con artists with public platforms have later been exposed for lying about having the sickness. One of the most renowned cases includes influencer Belle Gibson, who rose to prominence in 2012 as a self-proclaimed health guru who had 'cured' her own brain cancer through healthy eating, clean living and 'positive thinking'. Within a year, her inspirational Instagram account @healing_belle had amassed thousands of followers, many of them hopeful cancer sufferers, who would go on to download her wellness app, The Whole Pantry, and buy her cookbook of the same name. Throughout it all, Gibson claimed her earnings – reportedly more than $1 million - would be donated to various cancer charities. But there was one big problem: Gibson never had cancer, and eventually her empire came crashing down after two Australian journalists discovered she had been lying about it all – not just her disease but her philanthropy, too. Despite the con, Gibson never faced any jail time. After a drawn-out and dramatic case against the Federal Court of Australia, she was ordered by the court in 2017 to pay AU$410,000 (US$257,000) for her false claims of charitable donations. Her story was dramatised in Netflix show Apple Cider Vinegar earlier this year. Combined with her legal fees, she must cough up about half a million dollars (US$313,000). It's been almost a decade since then and she hasn't paid the fine.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
From hero to zero -- The plummeting reputation of GAA legend Carey
The plummeting reputation of once-revered hurler DJ Carey finally hit rock bottom yesterday morning. The GAA star, who won five All-Irelands and nine All-Stars in a storied career on the pitch, stood up and pleaded guilty to 10 charges of deception. He will be sentenced at the end of October. Long before he was arrested and charged with 21 counts of fraud and forgery in September 2023, rumours had swirled about his actions, initially in his native Kilkenny, before making their way nationwide. Could it be true? Could a GAA legend have conned people into thinking he had cancer so he could extract money from them? Some rubbished the idea. But yesterday, as he faced the prospect of a trial before his peers, Carey, 54, admitted to a host of criminal charges, including one in which he pleaded guilty to defrauding billionaire businessman Denis O'Brien. DJ Carey. Pic: © INPHO/Patrick Bolger Those gathered in court expected the trial to officially begin. Instead, as he was formally arraigned and Carey, dressed in a dark suit, pleaded guilty, there was to be no interrogation of the facts and no delving into exactly what he had done. Carey walked out of court but when he returns on October 29, he is facing the very real possibility of a custodial sentence. Where once he rubbed shoulders with other giants of the game along with the rich and famous, all of whom admired him, he now faces the stark reality that his new neighbours may comprise violent, sadistic and deeply troubled people. The court heard yesterday of Carey's 'significant mental and physical health problems' but he did not have cancer, despite telling over a dozen people he did and that he needed money for treatment. The rumour mill had been in overdrive for years, with one photo in particular revving up those claims. DJ Carey outside the CCJ. 02/07/2025. Pic:: ©Fran Veale The picture, its veracity never having been proven, showed Carey lying in bed with an iPhone cable up his nose, in what seemed to be an effort to make it appear he was connected to a medical device. Whether this was a joke or otherwise is not known. From there, the chorus of confusion from his community grew louder, the notion that he could have really committed these crimes grew in credibility, all borne from a widely shared WhatsApp photograph. Carey's life has been marked by extreme highs and tragic lows. One of nine children, he lost two of his brothers, John and Thomas, in separate incidents. One died as a result of sudden infant death syndrome, while the other died after a horrific farm accident. DJ Carey. Pic: Collins Courts Recalling that incident, DJ previously said: 'I was about three or four years of age, a brother of mine got killed on a PTO [power take-off] shaft between a tractor and manure spreader. 'My father was cleaning out the machine, and he went climbing up to get to him and got caught in a PTO. I had an older brother who died, I think, in a cot death, maybe a couple of years previous to that, so I'm sure my parents – that would never have left them to be honest.' After a hugely successful career on the pitch, Carey's battles with debt became well known, though he appeared to be dealing with them. He has been quoted giving after-dinner speeches at events and GAA discussion panels. DJ Carey. Pic: Collins Courts During these talks, he mentioned suffering heart scares and changing his lifestyle to improve his health. Even the man he ended up defrauding, Mr O'Brien, made him an ambassador for the fuel company Topaz, now Circle K. But while things appeared to be getting better for the Kilkenny legend, away from the attention of the media and his community, Carey remained in deep financial trouble. In 2023, it emerged 83 customers each had over €1million wiped from what they owed AIB, which was then the majority Stateowned bank. The 83 had the large amounts, all valued at over 90% of what they owed, wiped between 2015 and 2022. It emerged that Carey was one of the 83 who had the debt written off. In his case, he had to pay less than 1% of the original amount he owed to the bank. His debt was written down to just €60,000 from €9.5million in 2017 as thousands of mortgage-holders struggled with a series of interest rate hikes. His mounting debts were even a talking point as far back as 2015, with some rather prescient comments being made on RTÉ radio. He had previously pledged publicly to repay as much of his debt as possible. Speaking on the Ray D'Arcy radio show, Carey said: 'I am not one of those who would say 'I don't care' about repaying debt. 'You borrow money, it should be paid back,' he said, adding that 'to whatever extent that can be, I would still be conscious it has to be done.' It appears Carey's fall from grace is now complete
