Since leaving office, Carey came out as gay, and voiced support for the 2015 marriage equality referendum, saying "My only regret is that I didn't have the courage or confidence to [come out while in politics]. When I look back it's an awful pity I didn't feel able to do that. Nobody stopped me, but I wasn't sure how it would be received."[2]
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.[3] On 28 March 2011, the Sunday Independent reported that Carey had "appointed another party crony to a key State board on his final day in office".[11]
In November 2015, Carey stepped down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections.[12][13]
References
^"Pat Carey". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2009.