AXA probes over 50 staged accidents involving organised rings

Insurance heavyweight AXA is investigating dozens of suspected staged car accidents in Ireland with the cost of claims amounting to more than €3.2 million (£2.8 million).

 

Speaking to The Irish Examiner, a company spokesman said organised rings of persons involved in staged traffic accidents have been identified in certain areas of the country, including Donegal and Galway.

 

In the Galway region, AXA discovered links between persons involved in at least 35 alleged staged accidents wherein more than 190 third party claimants are pursuing claims worth up to €2 million.

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In Donegal, the insurer has 36 ongoing investigations into claims, 19 of which are deemed to be staged accidents with claims costs totalling over €1.2 million.

 

“I can confirm that Galway Gardaí (state police force) is investigating a number of road traffic collisions in which AXA insurance are the complainant/injured party,” Chief Superintendent Eoin Smullen told The Irish Examiner.

 

Smullen said they are exploring all avenues of investigations for such allegations of fraud.

 

“AXA believe that the investigation and prosecutions of these particular types of offences by the Gardaí and the convictions delivered by the courts will act as a deterrent to would-be offenders,” Smullen was quoted as saying.