A retired Roscommon garda and a Longford woman made bogus insurance claims after they alleged they had been involved in separate car accidents, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Ms Jacqueline Kinlan (36), from Ballagh, Newtown Forbes, Co Longford, claimed she was driving a Peugeot 405 Estate, 93-LD-341, when she skidded into a car driven by midlands farmer Mr John Manning on March 17th, 1994. She signed a form for the Guardian PMPA admitting liability and they paid out £31,297 in damages for both vehicles and personal injuries to Mr Manning.
Mr Desmond McGonigle (58), a retired garda from Cleen, Knockvicar, Boyle, Co Roscommon, claimed he was driving a Peugeot, with the same 93-LD-341 number, when it was hit by a car driven by Mr Peter Shields, at Keadue in Roscommon on December 21st, 1995.
Mr Shields submitted a claim to the Guardian PMPA saying he crashed into the vehicle being driven by Mr McGonigle. The insurers paid out £40,331 in damages for both cars and personal injury to Mr McGonigle.
Mr George Birmingham, prosecuting, said the central figure in both alleged conspiracies was Mr Michael Byrne, Ms Kinlan's brother-in-law, who owned Michael Byrne Motors in Longford. The trial continues.