Court asks gardaí to investigate alleged ‘staged accident’

The President of the Circuit Court has asked gardaí to investigate a road traffic injury claim after being told Zurich Insurance believed the proceedings were fraudulent and arose from a staged accident.

Barrister Paul Murray, counsel for the insurance company, told Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that a personal injuries claim by Patrick Ward was being withdrawn and could be struck out.

Mr Murray, who appeared with DAC Beachcroft solicitors, said there had been no agreement regarding the withdrawal of the case by Mr Ward, of Hillcrest Avenue, Leigh, Lancashire, who claimed he was hurt while visiting family in Co Galway.

Mr Ward had sued his sister-in-law, Catriona Connors, of Crumlin, Ballyglunin, Tuam, alleging he had been injured when her car hit a bridge on a frosty night on a narrow bog road.

She said in a garda statement that the car skidded when she attempted to brake. There were four other passengers, including a baby, in the car at the time.

Zurich Insurance, in a full defence on behalf of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, claimed the proceedings were fraudulent and arose from a staged accident.

The defence claimed the car involved had, on inspection, shown signs of not having been used for some time and had been incapable of being driven as the clutch had not been operating and there was no power drive to the wheels when it allegedly hit the bridge.

Zurich claimed that while there was evidence of damage as a result of a collision with the bridge, a damaged towing hook had been found attached to the car consistent with it having been towed to the area and “towed into the bridge.”

Judge Groarke asked Mr Murray if it would assist by his directing an investigation by gardaí into the claim. He was told it would and the court directed one be carried out.

He directed that the claim be struck out.