UK suspends strike-off action against a controversial Carey-owned company

One-time camogie star avoided same penalty in 2021

A strike-off action against Catriona Carey’s controversial company Careysfort Asset Estates has been suspended.

The company, which is at the centre of an alleged mortgage scam, was issued with a compulsory strike-off notice by the Companies House in the UK.

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.

An update published this week says this has now been suspended. It is the second time a strike-off action against Careysfort has been discontinued.

Directors have the option to object to a company being dissolved. For the action to be discontinued, “cause must be shown to the contrary”.

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

In October 2021, Careysfort also faced being struck off but this was later discontinued.

A judgment for £257 (€300) 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 £497 (€580). The details of the debts have not been disclosed, but both judgments remain outstanding.

Recent accounts filed for Careysfort said it had retained fixed assets worth £65,208 (€76,189), down from £91,000 (€106,338) in 2021. However, Companies House has taken the step of putting a warning note on the company’s credit score.

RTÉ Investigates exposed how Carey’s company was allegedly involved in a mortgage scam that defrauded people out of hundreds of thousands of euro.

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.

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.