Courts / Wexford / Report

Corrupt ex-garda jailed after losing appeal over insurance claim

Date
2016-10-11

Stage
Appeal

Court
Wexford Circuit Criminal Court

Primary locality
Wexford

County
Wexford

Summary

John Joe Synnott, aged 61, a former Garda, was convicted of deception and corruption for staging a non‑existent road traffic accident on 9 September 2007. He had reported an Audi A4 colliding with a parked Subaru Imprezza, creating a PULSE incident report and a Traffic Accident Preliminary Report, and paid out €23,352 to the drivers, Beverley Redmond and Lorraine Quinlan, through AXA Insurance. The prosecution argued that Synnott deliberately assisted the drivers and Joe Redmond, a friend and known criminal, in fraud. He was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Synnott appealed on grounds relating to the judge's jury instructions, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. He remains in custody on an undisclosed matter and is no longer a serving Garda. John Joe Synnott pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Corrupt ex-garda jailed after losing appeal over insurance claim. Charges or matters: three charges relating to a reported road traffic accident on September 9, 2007 which prosecuting lawyers said never happened; causing loss by deception by dishonestly inducing AXA Insurance to pay financial compensation in respect of an alleged road traffic accident at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, 2007. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

September 9, 2007 Incident
June 30, 2011 Incident
October 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
September 9 Incident
2016-10-11 Publication

Case subjects

John Joe Synnott

Convicted Person

Charges: three charges relating to a reported road traffic accident on September 9, 2007 which prosecuting lawyers said never happened; causing loss by deception by dishonestly inducing AXA Insurance to pay financial compensation in respect of an alleged road traffic accident at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, 2007 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Synnott had been granted bail in October 2011 pending his appeal but he was lead away to serve the balance of his sentence after judgment was delivered.