TheCity

Tag: currentaffairs

  • What will D.J. Carey’s fraud case mean for people who have genuine cancer cases? 

    Photo Credit: Bing Search 

    By Kelsey Doogan 

    The news that former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for faking a cancer diagnosis broke on Monday November 3 and has left many people in shock and wondering what it may mean for future fundraising appeals from genuine patients who desperately need people’s help. 

    Carey was once one of the country’s most admired GAA stars has recently admitted to deceiving people into giving him money by claiming he needed funds for life-saving cancer treatment abroad. His case was described by the judge as a “serious abuse of trust”.  It has also raised questions about how we respond when someone says they’re sick, are they being honest or not?  

    For years, Irish people have been known for their generosity. When a family member, neighbour, or teammate falls ill, communities tend to rally without hesitation. Holding raffles, online fundraisers and vigils are some of the many ways they show their support. But many now fear this case could have a lasting impact on their trust in people’s honesty.  

    “It’s such a shame,” says Mary McCabe, a resident in the northeast of Ireland who helps her local cancer fundraising group. “When someone lies about something as serious as cancer, it makes you wonder what else people are comfortable lying about. How can people be expected to trust charity organisations when things like this happen?” 

    Others argue that this shouldn’t affect how we respond to illness and how we choose to express our empathy. 

    “People shouldn’t stop helping others just because of one bad cookie.” said Nicole Kieran, a resident in County Monaghan who commented on the case, who spoke to us about the topic. “Instead, it should show just how transparent charities or people who set up fundraising pages need to be about exactly how they’re spending the money people donate.” 

    Online platforms like GoFundMe have systems in place to help verify campaigns and encourage transparency but smaller community-based organisations still rely on trust from those organising it.  

    In cases such as Carey’s, that trust was betrayed on a massive scale, but it also highlighted the importance of accountability of funds when collecting donations. 

    For people battling cancer, the fallout of this lie is more personal and the emotional toll of being doubted can be severe when these people are already in a vulnerable state. Advocacy groups have spoken out since the sentencing, reminding the public that most people who seek help are genuine and really in need of help from a wider community. 

    The DJ Carey case is a harsh reminder of how easily trust can be broken and how hard it is to rebuild. While his actions may cause some to second guess future charity organisations and appeals, they should not allow the countless genuine stories of people fighting real battles every day to go unsupported. Most fundraisers come from a place of honesty, desperation and hardship, not one of deception. As Ireland grapples with the fallout of this scandal, the challenge will be to stay compassionate while also being cautious. Remember to question, when necessary, but never lose our caring and compassionate side. 

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  • Winter Price Freezes- The People React 

    Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash 

    By Kelsey Doogan 

    Over the last couple of weeks both Electric Ireland and PrePay Power, two major energy and gas suppliers in Ireland, announced they would freeze their gas and electricity prices as we head into the winter months. 

    As temperatures drop and the evenings get darker, we tend to use more energy in the later months of the year, which also makes it the most expensive time of year to heat and light homes. 

    This is not a government-driven initiative and while there is pressure being put on them to introduce a nationwide freeze, one has not yet been agreed or announced.  

    Because this is an individual business decision, not a government- imposed freeze, other companies have not followed suit.  

    Energia, Bord Gáis, FloGas and others have raised their prices, further increasing the burden on their customers in Ireland. 

    “Makes you wonder how one company can do it but others can’t. We all know the winter months are expensive enough without energy suppliers increasing prices.” said Melissa McCabe, a Pinergia customer from the north east Region. 

    The government also announced that there would be no energy credits as part of this year’s budget, unlike in past years where a €250 credit was available.  

    This, paired with rising general cost of living pressures, could lead to an especially costly winter for many low and middle income households across the country. 

    For those select few companies choosing to freeze their prices, that freeze is due to stay in place until the 1t of March at the earliest. 

    “It is a relief to get word of the price freezes. It means that we can focus more money on other bills like food. In the winter months, everyone is home more often than during the summer,” said Frances Kieran, a PrePay Power customer who chose to comment on the recent news. 

    PrepayPower has had two price decreases since the start of 2023 and they also haven’t had any increases in that time frame either. 

    Photo by Henning Wiekhorst on Unsplash 

    PrePay Power serves around 240,000 customers, which represents approximately 4.5% of the Irish population. Electric Ireland, another company announcing a price freeze, has over 1.1 million customers — about 20.8% of the population. 

    While those two companies together cover about one quarter of all households in Ireland, the remaining 75% of consumers now face the possibility of price hikes in the coming months. 

    “When providers like Electric Ireland knock on the door offering their services, I may actually consider it now. I need to do what’s best for my family and while energy costs are going up, my wages certainly aren’t,” said Thomas Burns in reaction to the news of the price increases imposed by some companies over the month of October. 

    Reactions to the announcements have been mixed. People benefiting from the freezes are relieved and grateful for the financial breathing space, especially as winter bills rise. But for those with other suppliers, frustration is growing — some say they may be forced to switch providers or reduce usage, while others warn of longer-term uncertainty costs remain high. 

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