Insurance firm Axa probes into 55 ‘staged’ crashes

One of the country’s largest insurers has said it is investigating “organised rings” of people staging car crashes around the country, with potential claims of more than €3m in just two counties.

Axa Insurance is investigating 36 allegedly staged accidents in Co Galway and another 19 accidents suspected of having been staged in Co Donegal. It said the potential costs of claims arising out of the various accidents is in excess of €3.2m.

Chief Superintendent Eoin Smullen of Galway gardaí confirmed “a number of road collisions” are currently under investigation.