Michael Darcy jailed over false insurance claim

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Darcy was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 23 November 2017. The sentence was backdated to 27 October, when he went into custody.

Darcy pleaded guilty to making a false insurance claim to AXA Insurance on 1 September 2013. He also admitted forging an AIB bank statement on 17 September 2013 to support the claim. The proceedings were reported on 24 November 2017.

On 1 August 2013, Darcy submitted a claim for €49,170, of which €41,400 related to jewellery he said had been stolen. The items were a ring and two bracelets. Judge Nolan said Darcy had never owned the jewellery and that it had never existed.

AXA sought proof that Darcy had the money to buy the jewellery. The bank statement he supplied showed €48,783.42, but his actual balance was €34.42. The report said he also produced fake receipts after initially claiming that he had bought the jewellery at auction. The court heard that AXA spent €6,200 investigating.

Defence counsel Brendan Hennessy said Darcy's party hire business had failed during the economic downturn, leaving him in financial difficulties. His marriage had broken down and he had become dependent on cocaine. Counsel said Darcy had since become drug-free while serving time in the UK. The court heard that he had reconciled with his wife and had an offer of employment on release.