SHAMED EX-HURLER IS 'TOO RISKY' TO PUT DJ IN MAIN PART OF MOUNTJOY

DISGRACED hurler DJ Carey is set to be moved to the Training Unit of Mountjoy - as prison bosses fear it would be too much of a “risk” to have him in the main part of the jail.

- BY JOHN KIERANS

A Mountjoy source said: "I would expect DJ to be moved to the Training Unit, as it is known, in the coming days until all the fuss has died down.

"He is a high-profile prisoner who has no history of violence and he is in his 55th year. It would be too much of a risk putting him in the main part of the prison.

"The prison bosses have to ensure nothing happens to him."

The Training Unit is where the Mountjoy authorities detain inmates over 55 years of age so that they can not be endangered or bullied by younger, more violent prisoners.

A large number of sex offenders are currently held in this part of the Mountjoy complex, which was formerly the old St Patrick's Institute for young offenders.

Carey - who turns 55 this week - was given a five-and-a-half year jail sentence last week for defrauding people over €400,000 by pretending he had cancer.

He was sent to Mountjoy, where he is being kept at the moment in the Committal wing, where he has a cell of his own.

At one stage last Friday he was going to be moved to Portlaoise - but the prison authorities changed their mind at the last minute.

COOK

He has already got a job as a cook in the prison.

Normally white-collar criminals in Ireland such as Carey serve most of their sentence in one of the two open prisons - Shelton Abbey, Wicklow or Loughlin House, Co Cavan. However, they are expected to do some of their sentences, normally around 20%, in a closed prison first.