Case No. 1397Deception (fraud) · Co. Dublin
Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey pleads guilty to deception charges
DJ Carey, 54, a former Kilkenny hurler, pleaded guilty on 2 July 2025 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 10 of 21 deception charges, having dishonestly induced multiple people to give him money between 2017 and 2022 by claiming he needed to fund cancer treatment he did not have. The State asked for a nolle prosequi on one charge and the remaining charges to be taken into consideration. Carey was remanded on continuing bail, and his sentencing hearing is set for 29 October 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted2 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced2 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- DJ Carey, 54, a former Kilkenny hurler, pleaded guilty to 10 of 21 deception charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 July 2025.
- The charges involved faking cancer and dishonestly inducing people to give him money towards his imaginary treatment.
- When
- The deceptions spanned from January 2017 to November 2022, involving victims including Owen and Ann Conway, Mark and Sharon Kelly, Aidan Mulligan, Edwin Carey, Tony Griffin, Christy Browne, Thomas Butler, Jeffrey Howes, Noel Tynan, and Aonghus Leydon.
- Where
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Ms Justice Patricia Ryan.
- Charges
- The charges were brought under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
- In court
- The State asked for a nolle prosequi on one charge and the remaining charges to be taken into consideration.
- Carey was remanded on continuing bail.
- Sentence
- Sentencing is set for 29 October 2025.
- Other details
- Carey is a nine-time All-Star hurler who won five All-Ireland senior titles for Kilkenny.
- Carey underwent heart surgery the previous year and has mental health issues.
- The total amount involved in the deception was not disclosed in court.
52 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Owen and Ann Conway to give him money between March 2021 and November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Mark and Sharon Kelly to give him money between May 2021 and December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Aidan Mulligan to give him money between June and September 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Edwin Carey to give him money between December 2021 and November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Tony Griffin and Christy Browne to give him money between September and October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Thomas Butler to give him money between October 2019 and November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Jeffrey Howes to give him money between February and August 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Noel Tynan to give him money between January 2017 and October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarey dishonestly induced Aonghus Leydon to give him money between March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMary Bernie, 87, died from her injuries three days after being knocked down with a stolen e-scooter at Eccles Street, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGumble pleaded guilty to theft and burglary incidents in central Dublin on 21 July and 6 September 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDuring the first incident at an Ellis Quay apartment block at 11.39pm, Gumble opened a door with a kick and tried to enter the underground car park but failed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOn the second date at 11.45pm, a resident found his €750 bicycle with two locks attached was missing from his city centre apartment. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne lock was still attached to a rack and the other was broken on the ground; the bicycle was never recovered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe luggage Kelly was carrying contained just under 20kg of cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was worth an estimated €398,680. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charges were brought under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGumble pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene, and theft of an e-scooter from the Mater Public Hospital underground car park on 20 June 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to importation of cannabis at Dublin Airport on 12 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKelly also admitted to having cannabis for sale or supply on the same date. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charges involved faking cancer and dishonestly inducing people to give him money towards his imaginary treatment (irishtimes.com)
- courtCarey pleaded guilty to 10 of the 21 charges he was facing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Patricia Ryan presided over the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State asked for a nolle prosequi in relation to one charge and the remaining charges to be taken into consideration. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing hearing was set for 29 October. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCarey was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Treasa Kelly. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKelly came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas from the District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceGumble was jailed for six-and-a-half years and disqualified from driving for 10 years for the e-scooter hit-and-run. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Treasa Kelly imposed a six-month concurrent sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced Kelly to three years' imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Kelly first went into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDJ Carey will be sentenced at the end of October (irishtimes.com)
- otherCarey underwent heart surgery the previous year. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCarey also has mental health issues. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe total amount involved in the deception was not disclosed in court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCarey is a nine-time All-Star hurler who won five All-Ireland senior titles for Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGumble had been on bail for theft offences at the time of the e-scooter incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGumble has 144 prior convictions including vehicle theft, burglaries, attempted theft, theft, and trespass. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly has minor previous convictions for road traffic offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly has been on remand in custody since his arrest in January. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly retired in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly became very depressed around Christmas time because he had no money to get presents for his two grandchildren. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly was targeted by someone who knew of his financial situation and was offered money to take a suitcase from Thailand into Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly started his working life in a bakery before moving to London for about 20 years where he worked in construction. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly worked in a coal yard before moving to work with Irish Rail, where he remained until his retirement in 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly never asked for bail and co-operated with the garda investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelly is currently on an enhanced regime in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí accepted that Kelly had been exploited and that he accepted in interview that what he had done was very wrong. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDJ Carey is 54 years old (irishtimes.com)
- otherDJ Carey is a former Kilkenny hurler and multiple All-Ireland medal winner (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jul2025Once a star who had it all, DJ Carey’s life has been reduced to a squalid tale of deception
First report of DJ Carey's guilty plea to 10 deception charges (with 10 more taken into account) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 July 2025.
accused, Denis Carey, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Carey - 2 Jul2025Man became drug-mule because he couldn't afford Xmas presents for grandkids
Sentencing report: three years' imprisonment backdated to custody. Background on why Kelly became a mule (retirement, financial difficulties, depression, inability to afford Christmas presents for grandchildren). Career history and defence submissions included.
convicted, Patrick Kelly, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Kelly - 2 Jul2025Man who killed elderly woman in e-scooter hit-and-run avoids further prison time
Reports the sentencing for 2021 theft and burglary charges, noting Gumble's 144 prior convictions, his good behaviour in Mountjoy Prison, and the concurrent six-month sentence imposed by Judge Treasa Kelly.
victim, Mary Bernie, 87, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Bernieconvicted, Aaron Gumble, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Gumble - 2 Jul2025DJ Carey pleads guilty to defrauding people over cancer treatment claims
Provides the full list of named victims and date ranges for each deception charge, identifies the presiding judge (Ms Justice Patricia Ryan), the defence counsel (Colman Cody SC) and prosecution counsel (Dominic McGinn SC), notes the State's request for nolle prosequi on one charge, and records the sentencing date of 29 October.
accused, DJ Carey, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)DJ Careyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Ann Conway, female, irish (judged from name)Ann Conwayvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Sharon Kelly, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Kellyvictim, Aidan Mulligan, male, irish (judged from name)Aidan Mulliganvictim, Edwin Carey, male, irish (judged from name)Edwin Careyvictim, Tony Griffin, male, irish (judged from name)Tony Griffinvictim, Christy Browne, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Brownevictim, Thomas Butler, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Butlervictim, Jeffrey Howes, male, irish (judged from name)Jeffrey Howesvictim, Noel Tynan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Tynanvictim, Aonghus Leydon, male, irish (judged from name)Aonghus Leydon