A sum nearing €59,000 has been awarded to a lady in compensation for personal injury from nine claims against several insurance firms, and she has not had to step foot in a courtroom, it was brought to a judge’s attention.
Anne Keenan, 66, from Church Drive, Clarecastle, Ennis, Co Clare, and her friend Catherine McCarthy, 66, from Shelly Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, had two claims thrown out by Circuit Civil Court Judge Michael Walsh. He labelled these claims as false and disgraceful.
The women’s incident description was deemed highly improbable by Judge Walsh, speaking to Robert Ó Géibheannaigh, the barrister for a taxi driver and Allianz, the insurer that stood firm on contesting the women’s €60,000 claims.
Representing the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland, Stephen Dolan the taxi driver, and Allianz along with Newmans Solicitors, Mr Ó Géibheannaigh told the court that Ms Keenan had not disclosed nine earlier incidents that earned her €59,000 in settlements out of court. Similarly, he claimed that Ms McCarthy failed to disclose a related case.
Stephen Dolan, a taxi driver from Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, refuted the women’s claims, stating they were baseless. They accused him of ramming into the rear of a white van while he was on his phone driving them to Dublin’s Heuston Station in June 2016. The women alleged neck and shoulder injuries, with Ms McCarthy also claiming to have hurt her back.
Mr Dolan consistently claimed that there was no accident and affirmed that his mobile was on the dashboard throughout the trip, the Judge shared. He was confident in stating, “I am convinced neither lady was part of such incident.”
The Judge highlighted the significant inconsistencies in the evidence of both cases and the lack of disclosure of previous claims by the women.
“I do not find their claims convincing, and I am confident it is highly unlikely that a collision happened,” he stated.
He labelled the allegations as absurd, deducing that they were fraudulent and greatly inflated accusations aimed at a guiltless taxi driver. He decisively added, “I will not hesitate to dismiss both allegations, and I will grant one cost set in the defendants’ favour,” as he addressed Mr Ó Géibheannaigh.