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Catriona Carey’s Irish property firm to be struck off as mortgage scam probe continues

Carey had 56 days from the date the company is listed for strike off before the company is dissolved and its remaining assets forfeited to the state.

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THE Irish arm of Catriona Carey’s ‘Careysfort Assets Estates’ has been listed for strike off by the Companies Registration Office, the Sunday World can reveal.

Records obtained by this newspaper show the company, which was set up by Carey on July 1st 2016, was listed for strike off on January 10th.

Carey – who is the subject of allegations the UK arm of the company was a vehicle for defrauding distressed property owners through a fake mortgage buy-back scheme – is listed as a joint director of the company.

Its principal function was listed as the operation of trusts, funds and similar financial entities.

Her business associate, Paddy Maher, who is being investigated as part of the same probe by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau – is listed as the company’s secretary.

Carey had 56 days from the date the company is listed for strike off before the company is dissolved and its remaining assets forfeited to the state.

The company’s sister company in the UK, ‘Careysfort Asset Estates’ continues to be listed as ‘active’ by the UK companies office and filed accounts as recently as August of last year,

According to those accounts, the UK company retained assets of in excess of UK£65,000.

Three people were arrested in ­connection with the investigation into the UK company last year but no formal charges have been brought.

The probe centres on allegations 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.

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

As part of the investigation into the alleged deception of distressed borrowers, Carey was arrested by gardaí and questioned about the alleged deception last year.

The former Ireland camogie star was released without charge.

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

Another person suspected of 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.

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.

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 told the Irish Independent last months that they are feeling “let down” and “frustrated” by the pace of the investigation.

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.

“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.”