‘p****d off’ | 

Catriona Carey victims ‘utterly dismayed’ by ‘glacial pace’ of garda investigation

“It is profoundly disheartening that this investigation has been ongoing for years without any convictions”

Today at 07:10

Victims of an alleged mortgage scam involving former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey have said they are “utterly dismayed” by the “glacial pace” of the garda investigation.

Three people were arrested in ­connection with the investigation into Carey’s UK company, Careysfort Asset Estates, last year, but no formal charges have been brought.

A file is still being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).

Gardaí previously contacted British police forces to seek assistance as Careysfort was registered in the UK. They also had to contact Europol as some money had been wired to accounts in EU jurisdictions, which has led to ­delays in the investigation, sources said.

Distressed mortgage holders who lost out on thousands of euro say they are feeling “let down” and “frustrated”.

Carey claimed she would buy their loans from their lenders and then sell the loan back to them at a discount once they paid Careysfort Asset Estates a deposit.

It’s been nearly two years since RTÉ Investigates exposed how more than €200,000 received by the company was instead spent on holidays, designer clothes, furniture and a €55,000 BMW.

Firefighter Andrew Hickey, from Co Carlow, paid Carey €15,000 for a deal that never happened.

He said the victims’ hard-earned ­money was “callously pilfered”.

“I am utterly dismayed by the glacial pace of the garda investigation,” he said.

Gardaí have been presented with ample hard evidence

“It is profoundly disheartening that this investigation has been ongoing for years without any convictions. I am perplexed as to why the process has been so agonisingly slow.

“Our money was squandered on holiday cruises, a car, designer clothes, watches and dining out in extravagant establishments with callous disregard.

“Gardaí have been presented with ample hard evidence.

“I myself dedicated countless months to gathering information for them. RTÉ Investigates handed them everything on a plate. Yet here we stand, years later, with no justice.”

Miriam Tormey, from west Dublin, borrowed €20,000 to pay Carey in a bid to save a property in debt.

However, the deal she was promised never materialised.

“Any time I think about it, I get pissed off,” she said.

“Even with the garda investigation, we’re never going to get our money back as it’s been spent. I’m having to pay back the loan that I took out with interest on top. I haven’t a penny to my name. If this case involved bigwigs, rather than ordinary people like us, I wonder would the investigation be as slow.”

Carey was arrested by gardaí and questioned about the alleged deception last year. She was released without charge.

Her former business partner Patrick Maher was also arrested and released without charge.

Another person suspected of having involvement in the alleged scam was arrested and released without charge.

Catriona Carey was also arrested by officers from the Corporate Enforcement Authority, which is carrying out an investigation into alleged breaches of company law. She was released without charge.

Carey is also currently before the courts on a number of civil matters

In response to queries, a garda spokesperson said: “We have no updates at this time. Investigations are ongoing.”

Carey is also currently before the courts on a number of civil matters.

Pepper Finance lodged High Court proceedings over an outstanding mortgage debt last October.

Bank of Ireland is also suing the former Kilkenny camogie player over an outstanding debt.