Courts / Wexford / Report

Corrupt garda appeals conviction over insurance fraud

Date
2016-04-18

Stage
Appeal

Court
Wexford Circuit Criminal Court

Primary locality
Wexford

County
Wexford

Summary

John Joe Synnott, a 60‑year‑old Garda from Camblin Hill, New Ross, was convicted in 2011 of deception and corruption related to an alleged car crash that never occurred. He pleaded not guilty to three charges concerning a reported traffic accident on 9 September 2007, but a jury found him guilty on all counts. The judge sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. Synnott had been the investigating officer who reported that an Audi A4 had collided with a parked Subaru Imprezza, leading AXA Insurance to pay €23,352. He admitted calling the Garda Information Service to report the accident and not attending the scene. In October 2011 he was granted bail pending an appeal, which was opened today on several grounds, including alleged misdirection of the jury and improper definition of "induced.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Corrupt garda appeals conviction over insurance fraud. Charges or matters: three charges relating to a reported traffic accident on September 9, 2007 which prosecuting lawyers said never happened; corruption in office by falsely representing that a road traffic accident had occurred at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, 2007 and providing false information for the purpose of advantage to himself or another; knowingly using a document containing a false statement with intent to deceive and mislead to wit the report of a road traffic accident said to have occurred at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, which was false. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

September 9, 2007 Incident
June 30, 2011 Incident
October 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
September 9 Incident
2016-04-18 Publication

Case subjects

John Joe Synnott

Convicted Person

Charges: three charges relating to a reported traffic accident on September 9, 2007 which prosecuting lawyers said never happened; corruption in office by falsely representing that a road traffic accident had occurred at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, 2007 and providing false information for the purpose of advantage to himself or another; knowingly using a document containing a false statement with intent to deceive and mislead to wit the report of a road traffic accident said to have occurred at Newtown Road, Wexford on September 9, which was false (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty