Carey’s controversial company Careysfort pursued over outstanding debt in the UK

Firm is at centre of alleged €600,000 mortgage swindle

The UK company at the centre of an alleged €600,000 mortgage scam involving former Ireland hockey player Catriona Carey is being pursued for an outstanding debt.

A judgment for €300 (£257) was registered against Careysfort Asset Estates this month by the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC).

The CNBC handles civil claims for monies owed in England and Wales.

It is the second judgment filed against Careysfort in the last two years.

In June 2022, a judgment was registered for €580 (£497). The details of the debts have not been disclosed, but both judgments remain outstanding.

A notice for compulsory strike-off for the controversial Careysfort Asset Estates is still pending.

A first Gazette notice, which is a public warning that Companies House in the UK will strike a company off its register, was published on February 27.

Carey has the option to object, but the company will be dissolved unless cause is shown to the contrary.

A confirmation statement – a document that limited companies must file each year containing details of its directors and shareholders – is overdue.

This is not the first time the company has been targeted by Companies House. In October 2021, Careysfort was due to be struck off but this was later discontinued.

Four months later, RTÉ Investigates exposed how the Carey company was allegedly involved in a mortgage scam that defrauded people out of hundreds of thousands of euro. Recent accounts filed for Careysfort said it had retained fixed assets worth €76,189 (£65,208), down from €106,338 (£91,000) in 2021.

However, Companies House has put a warning note on the company’s credit score.

Carey is the sole director of Careysfort, which is one of multiple businesses registered in her name in England.

Her former business partner, Patrick Maher, is named as company secretary, but he claims he has resigned from the role. Both have been under investigation in connection with the alleged scam, and files have now been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

It follows a lengthy investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) into the UK company.

One-time camogie star Carey (46) was arrested as part of this investigation last April and Maher, as well as another former male associate, were also arrested as part of the probe before being released.

Gardaí have asked the DPP to review potential deception, theft and conspiracy to commit deception offences in the file, which was submitted in recent weeks.

Carey is currently being pursued through the courts for other debts. Pepper Finance lodged High Court proceedings over an outstanding mortgage debt last October.

The debt relates to a house she bought in the Rochfort Manor estate in Co Laois.

Her late father, John Carey, gave her security for the mortgage by supporting a charge over 30 acres of land he owned in Demesne, Co Kilkenny.

The Irish Independent understands Carey had failed to make any repayments on the mortgage loan account for a number of years and the level of arrears is now in excess of €370,000.

Bank of Ireland is also suing Carey over an outstanding debt.