THE MOTOR Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) secured judgments worth more than €500,000 against uninsured drivers in recent weeks, according to the latest issue of Stubbs Gazette.
While most of the judgments registered by MIBI in the closing weeks of 2009 were for amounts between €20,000 and €40,000, one individual – Laurence Phelan of Avoca, Co Wicklow – was hit with a judgment of €367,784.92.
This was secured in the High Court on December 22nd, and represents the largest judgment listed in the current edition of Stubbs Gazette.
The MIBI is responsible for compensating victims of road traffic incidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. It pursues all uninsured drivers who cause such incidents to recover the monies paid to victims, using legal means if necessary.
Although final figures for 2009 have yet to be compiled, MIBI chief executive John Casey said that, anecdotally, there appeared to have been more uninsured drivers causing road incidents last year. “Obviously this is to be totally deplored,” Mr Casey said.
“These people are a menace on the road and create the most dreadful traffic accidents.”
The listings in the latest Stubbs Gazette also suggest that a growing number of UK companies are pursuing debtors in Ireland.
HSBC Invoice Finance (UK), for example, was quite active in the Irish courts during December, registering judgments against Martin McKenna, proprietor of Supersavers in Dundalk; Stock Smart Ltd, also in Dundalk; and Meath businessman Ciaran McPhillips. All three were for small five-figure sums.
Excel Industries Ltd, which is based in the UK, registered a judgment for €171,554.07 against company director Paul Gilmartin of Tuam, Co Galway.
Also pursued through the courts by a UK creditor was Monaghan sole trader Sonia McNally, trading as Mini Me. A judgment of about €14,800 was secured against her on December 18th by childrens’ clothing group Flyers.
