cashing out | 

Suspected scammers drop claims as anti-fraud teams back lawyers in court

Data released last June by Aviva showed in the past two years 91 people had withdrawn from cases

Yesterday at 10:16

Suspected bogus personal injury cases are being dropped in bigger numbers after a series of victories by insurance companies in court.

Members of an infamous criminal family linked to dozens of cases have also dropped claims against local authorities over trips and falls, according to sources.

Data released last June by Aviva showed in the past two years 91 people had withdrawn from cases in which defendants refused to settle due to suspected fraud or exaggeration.

In some of those cases the people suing had offered to settle for lower amounts of compensation before dropping the case altogether once they realised it would end up in court.

Some local authorities have taken a tougher stance in recent years against people making false or over-exaggerated claims against them.

Backed by insurance companies’ anti-fraud teams, lawyers have successfully challenged cases in court which have been thrown out by judges.

Gangland figure Gary Hanley lost his personal injuries case earlier this year after a judge rejected his claim for damages for tripping on a footpath and hurting his hand while pushing a child’s buggy.

The judge said Hanley, who was being targeted by a Kinahan cartel hit team at the time, should have been able to avoid the accident.

In one high-profile case, Brian and Tina Lawrence had their case thrown out of court after Ms Lawrence was unable to remember any details about other claims she had taken.

At one point during the 2018 case, the judge gave a few minutes’ break to jog her memory after she was accused in court of lying.

The judge then dismissed the case in which Ms Lawrence claimed to have suffered a back and arm injury while travelling in a taxi that was in collision with another car.

Earlier this summer, Paul Weldon was revealed in court as a serial litigant after he pursued a claim against Dublin City Council after tripping on a footpath and hitting his head on a windowsill.

He walked out of court while the judge was still addressing him after being told his evidence was not credible and his case was being dismissed.

Fitness fanatic Jake Finn was seen on video deadlifting weights in a gym and working as a van driver two years after he claimed he suffered a chronic injury in a fall that left him out of work.

He withdrew his €60,000 claim in October last year after he was repeatedly branded “a liar” in court.

The former leisure centre worker, who sued Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council after slipping in a pool, told the Sunday World after the case concluded that the defence barrister was “like a bulldog”.

In July last year, a convicted drug dealer who previously had a threat against his life withdrew a personal injury claim for up to €60,000 on the morning the case was due to start.

Christopher Kelly (37), from Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin, Dublin, had been seeking compo from South Dublin County Council and Irish Water after he said he was injured when he tripped on an open shore where a water meter was due to be installed while out jogging in Clondalkin in August 2015.

Kelly, who was also seriously injured in a machete attack seven years ago, decided to withdraw the case and walk away with nothing before the hearing started.