Staging scam car accidents not victimless crime: judge

Staging insurance scam accidents is not a victimless crime, a sentencing judge declared yesterday, as he said such actions could cloud the making of valid claims and cause a premium rise for legitimate motorists.

Judge David Riordan’s comments came at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in a case arising out of false insurance claims from elaborately staged car accidents. The matters arose from a Garda investigation, code-named Operation Nascar, co-ordinated by the Organised Crime Unit at Cork’s Anglesea St Garda Station.

Six of those involved avoided jail yesterday but one, reported to be more heavily involved, was jailed.