in court | 

DJ Carey pleads not guilty to defrauding 23 people after claiming he had cancer

The former Kilkenny hurler (52) was remanded on continuing bail today

Today at 11:28

HURLING legend DJ Carey is denying deception and forgery charges and his trial is due to take place in 2025, a court has heard.

The former Kilkenny hurler (52) was remanded on continuing bail today after Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told his trial would take up to five weeks.

Mr Carey faces allegations that he falsely claimed he had cancer and defrauded people into paying him for treatment. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to July 2, 2025.

Mr Carey is charged with 21 offences under the Theft and Fraud Act – 19 counts of deception and two of using a false instrument.

Today was his first “mention” date in the circuit court after he was charged in September and sent for trial from Blanchardstown District Court.

Mr Carey, dressed in a navy suit and open-necked white shirt stood at the back of the busy courtroom waiting for his case to be called by the registrar.

When his name was read out in the morning’s list of defendants, his barrister Richard Downey said Mr Carey was present, “a jury is required” and the case would take three to four weeks.

A later date in July 2025 was initially set but the case had to re-called with prosecutor Simon Matthews saying he wanted to “make sure there’s enough time” for the trial in that year’s term before the summer break. The court heard there was a “potential for overrun” and it could take five weeks.

Mr Downey also asked the judge to vary bail conditions to change Mr Carey’s address and the garda station he is to sign on at.

The judge granted this after prosecutor Mr Matthews said he was consenting.

Mr Carey was not required to step forward or speak during today’s brief proceedings.

On the last date, Detective Sergeant Michael Bourke of Waterford station told Blanchardstown District Court Mr Carey made no reply to any of the charges after caution.

The charges name 23 alleged victims; some are individual men and women; others are couples.

The offences are alleged to have happened at unknown locations within the state on dates between 2014 and 2022.

The 19 deception charges state he dishonestly by deception induced alleged victims to make monetary payment to him after he fraudulently claimed to have cancer and needed finances to obtain treatment.

The two other charges allege he used a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine.

Bail was set in the accused’s own bond of €300 with no cash lodgement required.

Under conditions, Mr Carey must sign on weekly at his local garda station, be contactable at all times at the phone number he had provided, surrender his passport and not apply for any other travel documents.

He is also to give gardai details if he intends to travel out of the country and the address he intends to reside at.

Mr Carey must have no contact, directly or indirectly with any of the alleged victims, including by phone, email or social media.

The prosecution was ordered to disclose the accused’s garda interview video to the defence.

Free legal aid was granted after the court heard he had no income whatsoever.

Mr Carey, from a large sporting family, has enjoyed a hugely successful GAA career, with a number of Inter-County titles under his belt as well as managing and coaching teams after his retirement.

He is considered by many to be one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game, having won nine All-Star awards, as well as being twice named Texaco Hurler of the Year. Mr Carey retired in 2006 following 138 National League and Championship appearances.