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RTE Investigates [RTE 1]

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    Just had a google of the shop in Louth. It was advertised for 265k in 2018. I wonder who advertised this? When did the son buy it? It was back in the boom times right?

    It was sold on BidX last year for 150k.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭Deeec


    Catriona is a ruthless bitch who deserves punishment for what she done to these people. She should face harsh legal consequences for this . Her assets should also be seized and hopefully these people will get their money back. But It has to be said that these people were very very gullible - they still didnt deserve what happened them though

    1. Deposit had to be paid in cash - did noone think this was odd? Should have been big red flag when she said this.
    2. Company was registered in the UK - again this would be odd for the company not to have an Irish registration. This information is easily found online.
    3. Looking at the companys accounts would tell you she was a bullshitter- again you can get all this info in a few minutes online. Did noone think to check this out?
    4. At the very least you would check the legalities of this out with your own solicitor before doing anything.
    5. Family in Louth whose property appeared on Bidx - First call should have been to their bank to see what was going on not to Catriona Carey. They just sent her nice polite texts - unbelievable.
    6. Where did they get their cash deposits from - None of them lived in mansions so the arrears cannot have been huge. Giving this cash to the bank could have made all the difference.
    7. Never getting to meet her solicitor should have set alarm bells off.
    8. No website for the company in this day and age also.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,765 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    My question is whether these people knew well that there was something dodgy going on, but they thought the dodginess would be to their own benefit?



  • Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    Quick google of Catriona Carey would also have shown up what she was like.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    I would say yes, which is why they were so calm when they realised.

    Sure if it was that easy to get 66% of your mortgage knocked off, wouldn't everyone be at it?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    It's a fair question and I have my suspicions about 2 particular stories , namely the €60k ones. But I do believe the majority genuinely duped, nieve and desperate.

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    The saying ,Bicycle and being unable to Ride it comes to mind

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭Deeec



    I felt the woman in Cork seemed genuinely duped and desperate. You can tell this has had a huge affect on her health. I felt really sorry for her.

    The others I feel there is alot more to their stories. The programme last night just gave a basic overview. Alot of relevant questions were not addressed at all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    I fully agree and my heart went out to her 👌

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




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  • Registered Users Posts: 477 ✭✭glitterIsland


    I said the same thing last night. A large sum to be paid in cash is dodgy but that's far too easy for both me and you to say.

    When people are in debt and in trouble with the banks with their homes, often there are feelings of shame, guilt, embarrassment, fear. These people were vulnerable and they were preyed upon and took advantage of.



  • Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Comments on this Facebook post are interesting

    https://www.facebook.com/710332814/posts/10158906480177815/?d=n



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Excellently put and oddly there'll be consequences if an investigation proceeds , namely some individuals having to explain were these sums of money came from, particularly the two €60K amounts

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I think it's fair to say there's no "innocents" in the whole web of lies....the programme left an awful lot of unanswered questions. Where, all of a sudden, did all the cash come from??? If you're in a 300K "hole" why oh why would anyone think some flash blond in a tasty btw could magically reduce the hole by 2/3? Not being cold because I do sympathise/ empathize with the people that got swindled......but just take the whole scenario to the next step......if everyone that had a ,say, 300K hole got a haircut of 200K.......where was all the 'disappeared 200K'' gone???? Somebody HAS to eventually pay the tab.....the taxpayer isn't a 'infinite' source of €€€€



  • Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭Lad GAGA


    Utter scumbag, accepting that these people were very naive, but when you are as desperate as they are you're not thinking straight. But for the grace of God and all that. The question I have which wasn't addressed on the programme is how she became aware of these people's difficulties in the first place? Certainly Start Mortgages were involved in at least two of the 18 cases, but there were 18 (I think) in total (and possibly more who knows). So was somebody on the inside providing her with this information or did she advertise her services and they contacted her? In addition to the the bould 'Damian' she clearly couldn't have been acting alone to get their data/details in the first place.



  • Registered Users Posts: 477 ✭✭glitterIsland


    1. I agree about your point no.1. A large sum to be paid in cash is a red flag for me and most people but for people in debt they are in a desperate situation with many bad feelings so they probably don't think straight.

    2. Agreed but the world of vulture funds is not that simple either.

    3. Not everyone thinks about checking companies history and accounts.

    4. I agree with this. Advice from a solicitor should have been sought. These people should have been working with MABS. MABS would have helped them and given free advice.

    5. Catriona duped them. Even when the property went for auction she continued her lies and told them it was part of her strategy.

    6. They borrowed from friends and families and credit union. I agree these poands should have been provided to the bank in a deal or debt restructuring.

    7. I don't think vulture funds have websites either but I am open to correction.


    These people were preyed on. They were were in a desperate and vulnerable situation with debt and their homes. It brings so many bad feelings. Catriona was promising a good thing in their eyes and they fell for it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,994 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    Remember Gay Byrne was conned out of his life savings, not once but twice.



  • Registered Users Posts: 477 ✭✭glitterIsland


    Catriona isn't all that old. She's only about 41 or 42. Looking at her face from the post above she looks older with a face that's slightly sunken in. I would nearly bet large sums of money has been channelled towards drugs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Gusser09


    Just watched it again.

    Did the victims keep paying their mortgages or making payments they could afford during the process? Don't think it says anything relating to that.

    With all of the texts and delays and excuses they were getting how did someone not get in the car and go down and confront the bitch.

    Also as someone says about Mabs. How much arrears were the victims in? I'm not sure that I believe for a second that the lenders where going to repossess residential properties. You'd imagine that if the lender (start etc) were going to get a lump some of 20k,30k or 60k they'd have worked with the borrower.

    How many are still in their homes and haven't faced a court date regarding repossession?

    I just wouldn't have stood for it. Imagine being 18 months down the line after being told it would take weeks to get a contract and still making calls etc. After handing over 30k I'd have been at her front door. Only one thing these parasites understand and that's intimidation. Maybe her window fitter "solicitor" accomplice could help her fix her windows.

    She's in trouble. When she was confronted you could see in her face she knew the game was up.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Not at all discussed or mentioned re continuing Mortgage payments but highly unlikely.

    The continuous calls, texts, false promises is perplexing.

    I personally believe most of those affected had actually reached repossession stage, At that stage mabs can't do anything and it's unlikely any sudden payment off arrears would stop repossession process unless a complete clearance of Mortgage debt was offered.

    Unfortunately intimidation would not have worked , Carey an expert in deflection and excuses.

    She's in trouble alright but I've a strange feeling , not all of the victims will pursue this as they themselves are likely to have questions to Answer, in particular were did the funds come from and then there's proving that actually handed over any funds in cash deal arrangements.

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Are you struggling with new Boards Format 🤣

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,289 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    Surely after 60 seconds speaking with Damien the window fitting "solicitor " you would realise there was something dodgy talking place. During most of the conversations he appeared to be in a hurry to go into court. I'm not doubting his sincerity there but I wonder was it the solicitors benches or the Dock that he was heading for!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    O, if there's one character in this entire saga who's sincerity can absolutely be questioned, it's that mysterious chap. I suspect the only time this chancer ever appeared in court was as a defendant 😏

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    If anyone is using or knows someone using financial services companies right now, I’d suggest googling their directors names alongside catriona carey and see if there’s a link.

    I found a company that she had in the uk which was struck off. Went through the history and found other directors/company secretarys that were involved at the time the UK company was struck off and are trading right now in Ireland.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭Deeec


    Is this guy her partner/husband?

    I have to watch it again - it was unclear how they linked Mr Windows to being 'Damien' the solicitor. I know they done it by comparing recordings - which was odd. He must have some personal link to Carey which raised the issue of he being potentially in on it.

    Unless she was getting new windows and said to him ' will you pretend to be a solicitor for me' 🤔



  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 40,769 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    See this twitter thread which seems to think they've found a link between John "Damian" Stedmond and Catriona Carey via a chap called Patrick Maher...





  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    There's definitely a personal connection and I'd be pretty sure the name being used, not his real name 😏

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 40,769 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    What I also noticed on Twitter is that at least one person has set up a Go Fund Me appeal for Carey's victims. Sigh




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,289 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    It's a complete balls,they must have got Damien the solicitor to update it!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    I saw those names on the company director details but wouldn't have connected the mysterious Damien fella 😉

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    🤣🤣🤣🤣 I thought you might be struggling with all those quotes attached 😏

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Posts: 8,856 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    That’s probably the simplest and easiest way for people to have found out about this fraudster. You don’t need to know how to read a set of accounts- a simple google would have given you everything you need to know.

    saying that I’m not going to criticise her victims- people who are in major debt are very vulnerable - it’s similar to relationship fraud really and it’s all a numbers game- how many people did she actually approach or her “barrister” friend approach. We heard of 18 victims yesterday but there may well be more and also many dozens who refrained from participating in her evil scheme.

    She won’t be able to walk down an Irish street anymore without abuse hurled at her- and too right.



  • Posts: 8,856 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Yes indeed as I said above, there’s at least 18 victims but how many lucky people escaped her clutches



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,289 ✭✭✭realdanbreen




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Well well , more and more intriguing 🤔

    Note the last line in Bold.

    In fairness they clearly had time on their hands after their business dissolved 🙄


    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Posts: 8,856 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I’m looking for a fat ugly window fitter, Wexford area- anyone have any recommendations?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    If your looking for Mortage advice thrown in, I can point you in the right direction, so to speak 😆

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,253 ✭✭✭Xander10


    €500,000 that we know of from the programme scammed. Yes, she has a flash car, but where has all the money gone I wonder?



  • Registered Users Posts: 769 ✭✭✭Foggy Jew


    People who are drowning will clutch at the most unlikely of straws. This parasite & her accomplices targeted people on their knees & offered them a lifeline. I’m guessing the barrister who put the victims in touch with this wagon scoured the 4 Courts, seeking out people in court for non payment of mortgages, then swooped in & offered them an answer to their prayers. No wonder people fell for it. Drowning people will clutch at the most unlikely of straws.

    There is a special place in hell reserved for this bitch & her accomplices.

    It's the bally ballyness of it that makes it all seem so bally bally.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    Is that person insinuating that the "Ciara" person was involved? And that the Ciara person is now saying they were the one who notified the guards about Carey?

    Hmmmm....just after looking that Ciara person is a lawyer....wonder if she's the solicitor who put people in contact with carey?

    Almost 100% sure they didn't. Sure they kept thinking that their mortgage was sold to Carey in 2019 so no chance they continued to pay the "old" lender if they thought they didn't own the mortgage anymore.



  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,288 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Haven't read the whole thread, so apologies for that.

    I'm unclear on how she made contact with the people.

    The programme said at least one got a phone call from 'a barrister' (was this the window solicitor?).

    Carey must have had contacts that put her on to people who would be amenable to/desperate enough to fall for the scam.

    I had never heard of Start mortgages, yet two of the people covered were with them.

    Is someone in Start involved in all this?



  • Registered Users Posts: 728 ✭✭✭bertiebomber


    A lot of these financial advisors are scammers with a plausible title . A lad up our way took the local Doctor for big money but the Doc was a tough one and went after him he got his money back but a lot of people didnt, a local girl gave him 30 K her savings for a house and he didnt give it back. He is back in the same horsey society now and people have forgotten except the small people whom he stroked they are at a loss and no where to go . There is no real punishment for the frauds they commit. White collar crime is more acceptable in Irish society.


    As to spending 500k Its easily spent on handbags cars ritzy holidays and shoes. Shoes can be a grand a pair as to handbags 20,000 if you are really vain and jewellery very easy to hide money in diamond rings and watches.



  • Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    In a post a while ago someone posted a link to an "interesting facebook post". It was someone who tagged a woman named Ciara and the post said this is the woman (Carey) that you were working with.

    In the comments there seems to be signs that this Ciara person is now claiming that she was the one who first notified the guards about Carey. But the comments seem to indicate that this Ciara person was in contact with people, not answering questions, accusing clients of being repetitive and threatening that they have contacts in revenue that can speed up evictions.

    I'm wondering if this Ciara person is the person that put the people in contact with Carey. The facebook page shows her as a lawyer..



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,342 ✭✭✭SAMTALK


    Unfortunately she will probably be able to walk down any street in ireland . We dont deal very well with fraud

    I would imagine there is a lot more involved in this than 500g .



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Don't forget the intrepid, mysterious Barrister who "Recommended " the delightful Catriona 😏

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,342 ✭✭✭SAMTALK




  • Registered Users Posts: 1,128 ✭✭✭Fattybojangles


    Of course they did they thought they were getting one over on the banks and they didn't give a sh1t about how she was going to do it. They wanted to avoid the responsibility for their own actions no one forced them to take out those loans.

    Catriona Carey should absolutely be prosecuted and jailed for what she has done it's theft and fraud plain and simple but these were not innocent victims far from it they should have used their massive deposits to pay off their existing debts.



  • Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Miss Patrick Maher is a name listed on UK companies house too. I just can’t remember which company. Coukd be the Iris one



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,036 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    I could be wrong but I suspect most caught up in this debacle weren't actually trying to get one over on the banks (Although I have my suspicions about one or two ), this Vile fraudster essentially told them, she'd buy their homes from the banks (laughable, admittedly) and sell it back to them at a discount or reduced interest, payments etc. Some were desperate. Of course the bit they obviously didn't cop on to, apart from the absurdity of it all, how did they intend to finance a buy back if they were already in serious financial pressure 🤔

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




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