DJ Carey Sentenced for Forging Medical Letters to Fund Lifestyle

DJ Carey, a former hurling star from Kilkenny, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for forging letters from medical professionals to solicit funds for a cancer treatment that he did not require. The deception, which netted him approximately €400,000, was aimed at friends, family, and acquaintances who believed they were assisting him in his fight against multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer.

The case revealed a troubling pattern of manipulation. Carey produced letters that purportedly came from US doctors, praising his “staggering” bravery in facing cancer. One letter claimed, “Your courage and dignity along with amazing patience is staggering and it is the talk of all my colleagues and staff.” These documents were used to encourage others to contribute financially to his supposed medical treatment.

In October 2022, Carey texted a friend about his involvement in clinical trials, asserting that he was in Seattle for treatment. “I was in the cold face of those trials,” he wrote, later claiming, “I’m sure lots of people will benefit from trials that I have done.” He even misled others into believing he had received a clean bill of health. In a message sent to a friend, he excitedly stated, “I have gotten the full all-clear on everything and a full clean bill of health.”

Carey’s claims were further complicated by his visits to St Gemma’s Healing Ministry in Kilkenny, where he sought spiritual support. Seamus Byrne, the ministry’s operator, recalled being approached by Carey in October 2019. Byrne, who provides healing through prayer, expressed disappointment upon learning that Carey had fabricated his illness, stating, “It’s sad anybody would abuse or use anybody’s ministry like that.”

The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Carey had initially sought funds for treatment and travel costs. He approached an accountant for Denis O’Brien, who provided him €125,182 and US$13,000 for expenses. Letters of support from reputable medical institutions, including The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, were also found to have been forged. One letter outlined a supposed treatment schedule that raised suspicion among medical professionals due to its overly casual language.

Professor Kamal Fadalla, a consultant haematologist at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Dublin, explained the realities of multiple myeloma. He noted, “The prognosis and treatment for multiple myeloma has improved through the years. We think the average survival for a patient with multiple myeloma is between eight to twelve years, but unfortunately there is no cure for myeloma.”

The court proceedings revealed that Carey had made extravagant claims, including undergoing “23 transplants and 347 tumours removed.” These statements were met with skepticism from medical professionals, who noted that the language used in the forged letters was inconsistent with standard medical communication.

Carey’s fraudulent activities ultimately came to light, leading to his conviction for using forged medical letters to support his scam. The emotional and financial impact on his victims has been profound, with many expressing feelings of betrayal and disappointment.

As the case concludes, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential for manipulation and deceit that can arise in desperate circumstances. The consequences for DJ Carey are significant, both in terms of his prison sentence and the lasting damage to his reputation.