DJ Carey, one of Ireland’s most celebrated hurling stars, has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud after pretending to have cancer to solicit money from victims, including Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien.
Carey, 54, known as a ‘hurling legend’ and regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, admitted to 10 counts related to defrauding individuals by falsely claiming he needed funds for cancer treatment. The offenses occurred between 2014 and 2022.
Images resurfaced showing Carey lying in a hospital bed with tubes up his nose — though it appears one of the “tubes” was actually an iPhone charging cable taped to his face, reportedly sent to support his fraudulent claims.
During court proceedings at Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice, Carey’s defense acknowledged his genuine health issues, including a heart condition requiring surgery last year. Nonetheless, they confirmed he had no cancer.
Carey’s fall from grace follows a public financial struggle after retiring from hurling in 2006. He faced significant debts, including a court-ordered repayment of over £7 million to Allied Irish Bank, later settled for a much smaller amount.
Originally charged with 21 counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, Carey’s guilty plea has led to a sentencing date set for October 29. He remains out on bail until then.
The scandal adds to a troubling history of high-profile cancer-faking cases, including that of Australian influencer Belle Gibson, who in 2015 was exposed for falsely claiming to have cancer to boost her profile and sales.
