Catriona Carey is an Irish former international hockey player and camogie player. Convicted of tax offences in 2008 and of theft and fraud in 2020, in early 2022, RTÉ Investigates reported that Carey was connected to fraudulent business practices.[4][5]

Catriona Carey
Personal information
Born 1977 or 1978 (age 46–47)[2]
County Kilkenny, Ireland
Senior career
Years Team
Hermes Ladies' HC[3]
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998-2006 Ireland 72[1]

Sport

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From Gowran in County Kilkenny,[6] Carey is the sister of hurler D. J. Carey.[7][8] As a camogie player, Carey was a member of the Clara GAA team that won the Féile na nGael Camogie Division 1 competition in 1992.[9] She later went on to play for the Kilkenny camogie team.[4][10]

Also playing field hockey,[11] she earned 72 caps for the Ireland women's national field hockey team, including at the 2005 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship in Dublin.[1] She retired from international competition in 2006, after the 2006 Women's Intercontinental Cup, though continued to play club hockey for Hermes Ladies' Hockey Club.[1] She reportedly rejoined the Irish squad in 2008.[12]

Financial activities

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Trained as an accountant,[2] she worked with her brother's cleaning company.[6] In 2008, while at the company, Carey was fined €1,500 after pleading guilty to knowingly producing an incorrect invoice to the Revenue Commissioners in connection with VAT. She was also found guilty of furnishing incorrect information to Revenue in 2006, and claiming a repayment of VAT to which she was not entitled. She resigned within six months of the court hearing.[13] After her departure from the firm, alleged "financial irregularities" were the subject of review by auditors and an investigation by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.[6] As of 2012, these investigations had "not led to any prosecutions".[6]

In 2020, Catriona Carey was convicted of fraud and theft, after forging a cheque to make it payable to her, rather than the payee intended by the business that hired her as an accountant.[2][14]

In February 2022, RTÉ Investigates reported that she was connected to fraudulent business practices.[4][5] The RTÉ report referred to an "elaborate scam" and noted that the Gardaí had received several complaints about Carey and her company, Careysfort Asset Estates.[5][15] An article in the Irish Independent, which described Carey as a "convicted swindler", suggested that the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) had received at least 30 such complaints by late February 2022.[16] The GNECB subsequently seized her car and searched her home as part of an investigation into alleged fraud.[17][18] By June 2022, the Central Bank of Ireland had issued a public warning about Carey's company, identifying it as an "unauthorised company" and noting that it was "a criminal offence for an unauthorised firm / person to provide financial services in Ireland".[19] Also, in mid-2022, Carey was given a suspended prison sentence and a four-year driving ban for driving without a licence or insurance while disqualified from driving.[20][21]

She was sued by Bank of Ireland for reputed outstanding debts and,[22] after "defaulting on her mortgage payments for nearly 10 years", Carey's own home was repossessed in November 2022.[23]

In late 2022, a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the former secretary of Carey's company, Careysfort Asset Estates.[24] Carey herself was arrested in early 2023 as part of an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority (separate from the parallel GNECB investigation).[25] She was questioned for 12 hours before being released without charge.[26] She was arrested on 18 April 2023 as part of the GNECB investigation.[21] After a "lengthy investigation" by the GNECB, the file on Carey's "alleged fraudulent activities" was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in March 2024.[27]

A number of finance companies, associated with Carey, were "listed to be struck off" by the Companies Registration Office during 2024.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Watterson, Johnny (20 November 2006). "Carey decides to call it a day with Ireland". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Molloy, Amy; Mulligan, John (14 February 2022). "Catriona Carey's downfall: From playing for Ireland to being convicted of fraud". independent.ie. Independent News & Media.
  3. ^ "Club History". monkstownhockeyclub.com. Monkstown Hockey Club. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Hermes Hockey Club [..] has produced numerous senior international players over the years, including [..] Catriona Carey
  4. ^ a b c Mulgrew, Seoirse (14 February 2022). "RTÉ Investigates exposes elaborate mortgage scam by former Ireland hockey star". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Murphy, Paul (14 February 2022). "How this businesswoman conned distraught homeowners". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d O'Donovan, Donal (25 April 2012). "Family members were business partners -- and rivals". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  7. ^ Lynch, Suzanne (10 May 2011). "Court case shines spotlight on couple's debts and complex financial dealings". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  8. ^ Hannigan, Mary (4 March 2000). "Sisters swinging from a lofty peak". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  9. ^ Kilkenny GAA Bible 2018 (PDF). kilkennygaa.ie (Report). p. 158. All Ireland Féile na nGael Camogie Champions Division 1 [..] 1992 Clara: [..] Catriona Carey
  10. ^ Uí Scolaí, Máire (19 July 2004). "Camogie: Galway class sees Antrim draw blank". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 15 February 2022. A determined Kilkenny side made a great start when Caitriona Carey, sister of the legendary DJ, crashed the sliotar to the net for the opening goal
  11. ^ Flack, John (2 May 2006). "Ireland's Carey grabs late winner". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Hockey: Carey back in Ireland panel". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  13. ^ Tighe, Mark (13 February 2011). "DJ Carey's sister had Vat convictions while at his company". The Times.
  14. ^ Feehan, Conor (4 April 2022). "Fraudster Catriona Carey charged with driving without insurance or licence". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  15. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (20 February 2022). "Catriona Carey's assets being hunted by private investigator". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  16. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (27 February 2022). "Convicted swindler ran up a litany of unpaid debts". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  17. ^ Hyland, Paul (2 March 2022). "Catriona Carey's home raided and documents seized by Gardaí investigating alleged fraud offences". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  18. ^ Molloy, Amy (10 March 2022). "Gardaí seize BMW driven by convicted fraudster Catriona Carey who is at centre of further scam allegations". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  19. ^ Slater, Sarah (9 June 2022). "Central Bank issues warning against Catriona Carey's company". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Carey given suspended sentence for driving offences". rte.ie. RTÉ News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  21. ^ a b Foy, Ken (18 April 2023). "Catriona Carey arrested over alleged €600,000 mortgage scam". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  22. ^ Molloy, Amy (30 June 2022). "Bank sues fraudster Catriona Carey over debts related to mortgage she holds". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ^ Molloy, Amy (5 November 2022). "Catriona Carey loses family home after defaulting on mortgage for 10 years". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  24. ^ Molloy, Amy (16 December 2022). "Judge orders arrest of Catriona Carey's former business partner". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  25. ^ Lally, Conor (22 February 2023). "Catriona Carey arrested as part of investigation into alleged company law breaches". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  26. ^ Maguire, Mairead (26 February 2023). "Fraudster Catriona Carey transferred thousands to brother DJ Carey from account under investigation". newstalk.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  27. ^ Foy, Ken; Molloy, Amy (7 March 2024). "File sent to DPP over Catriona Carey firm at centre of alleged mortgage scam". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  28. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (21 January 2024). "Four finance firms linked to convicted fraudster Catriona Carey listed to be struck off". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2024.