Local man gets caught up in alleged cancer treatment scam

Damien Maher

Well-known Westmeath Examiner columnist, Bernie Comaskey, was one of those caught up in an alleged scam in which a prominent GAA personality was seeking donations to help pay for cancer treatment.

Bernie gave a donation to the person involved, believing it to be a genuine case.

Speaking this week about how he was convinced to make a donation, Bernie said he is shocked at the allegations of a scam and is finding it difficult to comprehend just how another human being could behave in the manner alleged.

“I’d be a very minor player in all of this,” he said, when agreeing to speak on the controversy this week.

“I would have come across the former player many years ago, but in relation to this whole thing, it was through a mutual friend that he asked for my number. He then contacted me and explained the nature of his ‘disease’.

“I got a call from this former player and he explained he was going to this hospital in America for treatment; they would give him ‘priority’ because of his sporting prowess.

“I regularly donate to charity and had done so already at this stage, along with my son, Ian, but we spoke about it and I insisted we had to support this former player. So, we made a donation,” said Bernie.

His suspicions were aroused when the cheque he posted was returned in the post twice. He then transferred the funds. The former player was, however, a little aggrieved that Bernie and his son hadn’t been more generous and that came across in a subsequent conversation.

“I was a little suspicious then, because he seemed to be sort of in hiding,” Bernie told the Westmeath Examiner at the weekend.

Bernie had struck up a relationship with the former player in the past and he came to Mullingar.

Bernie did have to ask him on more than one occasion to text his son, Ian, and acknowledge the donation that had been made. That was all he requested in return.

Bernie is genuinely shocked at the nature of the alleged scam and fears it will have implications for those raising funds in the future.

“We are small players in this, really, myself and Ian, in comparison to others who gave significant sums. A Kilkenny man, for example, donated €15k, while a businessman in Portlaoise gave €160k,” he said.

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“It’s sickening, absolutely shocking that this could happen and it could make it difficult for people who are genuinely trying to fundraise for cancer now, I fear.”

Bernie also feels fortunate that he didn’t play a more prominent role, as he had been asked to organise the GAA clubs in Westmeath to donate.

“Luckily, I refused and told him that would have to be initiated in his home county. Then we could look at doing something in Westmeath.”