Court hears how Galway crash may have been ‘staged’ to make claim

The gardaí have been asked to investigate a road traffic injury claim by the President of the Circuit Court after he was told Zurich Insurance claims the accident was staged.

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for the insurance company, told Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that a personal injuries claim by Patrick Ward was being withdrawn and could be struck out.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 Ave, Leigh, Lancashire, who claimed he had been 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 had hit a bridge on a frosty night on a narrow bog road. She had said in a garda statement that the car had skidded when she attempted to brake and said there had been four other passengers in the car.

Zurich Insurance, in a full defence on behalf of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, had claimed the proceedings 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 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 directed that an investigation be carried out by gardaí into the claim. He directed that the claim be struck out.