MUM FACING ABUSE OVER CAREY 'SCAM'
» Barrister denies link with alleged fraudster » Vile attacks forced her to go on the record
A BARRISTER who introduced distressed homeowners to suspected fraudster Catriona Carey says she has been subjected to vile abuse online.
Catriona Carey, an accountant who played hockey for Ireland and camogie for Kilkenny, is alleged to have taken €500,000 from families in financial dire straits.
RTE Investigates reported earlier this week on an alleged financial scam by the businesswoman targeting people whose homes were about to be repossessed.
Now Ciara Ruschitzko, who runs a service to help lay litigants navigate the legal process, has issued a statement about Ms Carey’s company Careysfort Asset Estate Limited.
After suffering a torrent of abuse online in recent days, she said: “My initial thoughts were not to say anything.
“I had the belief that all who know me know that I would never be involved in a [alleged] scam and the least said was the best option.
“I didn’t see the benefit to giving the keyboard warriors an open goal.
“But when your profile picture is shared on social media with the word ‘scum’ under it and your children see comments about their mother, then the gloves come off...”
Some of them have made me fear for my safety
CIARA RUSCHITZKO ON ONLINE ABUSE
TROUBLE
Ms Ruschitzko stated that she met Catriona Carey in 2019 through work contacts.
She said: “Many moons ago I became involved with lay litigants who were in trouble with the banks. My job was to help. So I helped.
“I did everything I could to help people who were in trouble.
“Through work contacts I met Catriona Carey in 2019 and she claimed she had an offering to give a second chance to people in last chance saloon.
“I don’t think I need to elaborate as the whole country saw the human tragedy this woman has caused.
“None of us knew it when we were looking at her contracts as very little was on Google. Weirdly there was no reference to a previous conviction.
“So Catriona Carey presented a limited company called Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd... I introduced some people to her.”
Ms Ruschitzko described Catriona Carey’s approach as “always laid back”. She added that the contract stated that clients should do due diligence and every question was answered by Catriona Carey in writing.
She continued: “A deposit was required and initially that was cash. Thankfully I keep all communication and in a number of them I state that I was not happy with Catriona asking my client for a cash deposit.
“Catriona Carey produced the relevant invoice/receipt for all cash deposits. She assured clients that all deposits were covered in her contract with them and the contract acknowledges every cent of every deposit.
“It also states that the deposit is refundable. After a while Careysfort Asset Estates takes the deposit by bank transfer.”
The barrister said all seemed “okay” in 2019 and 2020 but then “Covid gave her an excuse not to produce contracts”. Ms Ruschitzko said she was told by someone in 2020 that he had 15 missed appointments with Catriona Carey – but she was “so convinced” that she paid them herself to sort out a better mortgage.
She issued an ultimatum to Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd in August 2021 to execute the contract or rescind within seven days on written authority from people she introduced.
Ms Ruschitzko said Catriona Carey “told me she would no longer have any communication with me and would deal directly with the people who had paid deposits to her”.
She said she first went to the gardai in August 2021 and started talking to RTE Investigates in November 2021.
She added: “It is a horrible feeling when you see your picture on social media with the word “scum”.
“I will state emphatically I am not involved in this [alleged] scam...
“I was never a director or employee of Careysfort Asset Estates and I too am a victim of it.
“The only problem is that everywhere I turn I’m being annihilated.
“Facebook, Twitter, anonymous texts, Whatsapps, phone calls during the night, etc etc.
“It’s a sickening shocking feeling to read the words that some people write about you, especially when you have gone out of your way to help...
“There are no thoughts for families and the people who get upset.
“And what is completely incredible is that there is no regard
for the truth... Some of the screenshots I have seen have kept me awake and made me fear for my safety.”
On Monday RTE Investigates exposed the alleged con highlighting the plight of more than 15 people who collectively paid €500,000 to Careysfort in deposits.
Ms Carey’s proposal was to buy distressed loans from banks at a knockdown price and sell them back to the homeowners at the vastly reduced rate.
RTE Investigates revealed that bank statements from Careysfort Asset Estates showed that clients’ deposits were used to pay for a flash car and lavish holidays.
More than €200,000 was apparently spent on items and services for personal use, including €22,000 on a trip to Florida and more than €55,000 on a BMW car.
As of last month, just €488.10 remained in the account to pay homeowners back their deposits.
Ms Carey is the sole director and owner of Careysfort Asset Estates.
Around 15 people have complained about Ms Carey to the Garda after they handed over large sums of money to her company.
A Garda spokesman told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Gardai in Carlow are investigating reports of a number of alleged fraud incidents.
“Investigations are ongoing.”