Hurling legend DJ Carey is to stand trial accused of deception and forgery by persuading 23 people to donate funds after fraudulently claiming he needed money for cancer treatment.
The former Kilkenny GAA star faces 19 counts of deception and two charges for using false instruments between 2014 and 2022.
The five-time All-Ireland winner appeared before Judge John O'Leary at Blanchardstown District Court on Friday morning after gardaí obtained directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He was served with a book of evidence, returned for trial, and granted free legal aid. There was no objection to bail subject to a list of agreed conditions.
Dressed in a dark puffer jacket and navy trousers, he stood silently in the dock, clutching his hat as the evidence was given.
He has yet to indicate a plea, and the monetary amounts allegedly involved were not disclosed during the brief hearing.
Mr Carey (52), with an address in Kilkenny, is accused of dishonestly inducing individuals and couples over nine years to make monetary payments to him after allegedly fraudulently claiming to have cancer and that he needed finances to obtain treatment. It is alleged the offences were with the intention of making a gain for himself or causing loss to another.
There are two charges for using a false instrument to induce another person to accept it as genuine.
The offences allegedly occurred at an unknown location in the State.
The names of the alleged donors were not read out in court.
Garda Sergeant Michael Burke, Waterford station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told Judge O'Leary that the accused was arrested at 9.05am at Blanchardstown Garda station, and Mr Carey "made no reply" when he charged 10 minutes later.
The judge noted there was no objection to bail.
State solicitor Jonathan Antoniotti told the court that the DPP directed "trial on indictment" at a higher level. Judge O'Leary granted a return for trial order, sending the accused forward for trial to the next sittings of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he will face his next hearing on November 3rd.
Mr Antoniotti said that exhibits in the book of evidence would be transferred electronically later on Friday afternoon.
Judge O'Leary gave Mr Carey the standard warning to notify the prosecutors within 14 days if he intended to use an alibi in his defence. Mr Carey, holding the book of evidence, nodded and quietly said "yes" and "I do" when asked if he understood.
His solicitor, Edward Hughes, asked that his client's address and phone number not be read out in court.
Judge O'Leary told Mr Carey that he must reside at his current address, sign on at his local Garda station once a week, surrender his passport and not apply for a replacement.
Judge O'Leary noted he has already provided gardaí with a phone number and told him to "be contactable on this 24/7, 365".
He said Mr Carey must tell gardaí where he will reside if he travels outside the country.
The defence solicitor said his client would travel from Ireland to the UK for potential work.
The judge also warned him to have no contact with witnesses or potential witnesses by phone or email.
'No income whatsoever'
The accused, via his solicitor, applied for legal aid; Mr Hughes said he understood that there was no garda objection and handed over a statement of his client's means to the judge.
The court heard Mr Carey had "no income whatsoever".
Acceding to the application, Judge O'Neill said that due to Mr Carey facing a Circuit Court trial, he would need "large resources" to fund his case.
Mr Hughes asked that it include a solicitor, junior counsel and senior counsel.
The solicitor said: "This is going to be a heavy document; there is a lot of paperwork involved," adding, "The nature of the charges are very unusual and difficult to defend".
Judge O'Leary said at this point he had no idea of the gravity of the charges or amounts involved, and he granted legal aid for him to have a solicitor and junior counsel.
He told Mr Hughes he could apply for senior counsel representation when the case is in the Circuit Court.
The judge also ordered gardaí to provide copies of interview videos to the defence and remanded Mr Carey on €300 bail.
He then confirmed his signature on his bail bond before leaving the court.
