A CLAIM for compensation by a garda arising from a report that his patrol car was hit by a stolen car is the subject of a fraud investigation, it has emerged.
The officer lodged a claim for damages under the Garda compensation scheme last year, one of 264 officers to make a claim during 1996 for injuries which are supposed to have been incurred during working hours.
The officer's claim gave rise to suspicion after the damage to the patrol car was inspected. It is understood an opinion was given that the damage was not consistent with a collision with another car.
Another officer who was with the garda in the car is understood to have withdrawn a statement supporting the claimant's version of events. This officer might also be the subject of disciplinary proceedings.
A senior garda is now investigating a claim by the passenger in the patrol car that the driver deliberately reversed the vehicle into a wall in order to make it appear that it had been shunted by a stolen car.
Senior Garda sources have con firmed that the matter is the subject of a formal investigation. A file on the investigation is being prepared and, when complete, will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The officer who is the subject of the investigation has been informed of what is happening and advised to seek legal advice.
It is understood he will be supported in any legal action by his staff association, the Garda Federation which represents around 2,500 gardai who broke away from the main Garda staff association, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) three years ago but which has not been formally recognised by the State or by Garda management. The federation has financial reserves of up to £250,000 with which to defend cases against its members.
The whole issue of compensation to gardai for injuries incurred during their duties is the subject of a review by a committee of civil servants and gardai.
The committee was set up by the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, after the High Court decided last year that claims for compensation for non serious injuries, which represent around 90 per cent of claims, could not be processed under the statutory compensation scheme under the Garda Siochana Acts.
The committee has yet to report, although Mrs Owen indicated in the Dail last month that its work is well advanced.
Last year, the State paid a total of £2,523,000 to 150 gardai for injuries sustained during their work. The annual total for payments under the scheme since 1989 is between £2 million and £4.5 million.