Gardai investigating fraud and deception claims linked to a GAA legend believe the sum involved is well in excess of €1million.
Investigators believe charges are still some weeks away but are not worried he may try to flee the country as they don’t regard him as a “ flight risk”. The investigation team have been inundated with new cases against him since the scandal broke last weekend.
A source said: “A load more people have come forward and made new allegations. They are no longer embarrassed because they know loads of others were caught by the same scam.
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“We are talking about a huge amount of ordinary people who were stung and also a very substantial amount of money. Although there are a handful of people who gave him big six-figure amounts that have come forward, there are smaller donors from all over the country who gave him anywhere from between €2,000 and €5,000.
“The majority did so out of the goodness of their heart because they genuinely thought he was seriously ill with cancer and wanted to help save his life. These same people couldn’t afford it and could do with their savings back.
“They feel really angry and betrayed. He was still trying to tap people up for money only a few weeks ago even though he knew we were investigating him.”
The initial estimate of the sum involved was one million euro but now it is believed to be much higher. The whole saga has been going on for more than a decade.
The player claimed to be suffering from a form of blood cancer and claimed he needed the money for stem cell treatment in the US. However, several times he was meant to be in the US, he was either golfing or on holiday abroad with his girlfriend.
One man who gave him €10,000 said: “The whole cancer story is an absolute and utter lie. He made it all up to secure money under false pretences.
"The man was a very good friend of mine and he duped me. I like everyone else who gave him the cash, acted in good faith.
“He has absolutely no moral compass whatsoever. Imagine using cancer as a reason to con people, it is shocking. He must not be allowed to get away with it.
"Ten years ago he claimed he needed stem cell treatment and yet he was saying the same thing last summer.” We have seen texts the player sent last summer to a businessman he had met on the GAA golf circuit and gives an insight into how he operated.
The man concerned didn’t give him any cash. The fraudster asked him not to say anything to a mutual friend they had and that he was trying to get back to Seattle for a transplant.
The player claimed he had asked five people in his home county for help and they couldn’t do it. He claimed he missed three transplants and was a bit down over it but he’d have to wait until he has the funds.
He also claimed the cost of the treatment was €60,000 and he had €35,000 already sent and was due to travel the next Saturday.
The businessman had a number of friends who were hit by the star for large amounts of money. A number of them have made statements to the gardai.
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