Winnifred Lawrence jailed for deception in insurance claims

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

Winnifred Lawrence was jailed for three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, over false insurance claims. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the sentence, suspending the final portion to mark Lawrence’s ill health.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to three counts of making a gain for herself or causing a loss to another by deception. The proceedings were reported on 16 May 2024.

The court heard that Lawrence made six personal injury claims using the false name Margaret Mongan between September 2012 and May 2014. The first three resulted in compensation payments totalling €28,310; Lawrence received €23,185.50 after legal expenses.

Detective Garda Ivor Scully said three further false claims were unsuccessful. The report said solicitors’ files contained authorisations for claims made in Mongan’s name to be paid to Lawrence, and that other evidence linked Lawrence to the claims. Lawrence denied the allegations when interviewed by gardaí in 2019.

Garnet Orange SC, defending, said the claims could not have progressed without inside knowledge of the system and asked the judge to consider Lawrence’s role. Judge Codd noted the defence suggestion that Lawrence was a ‘tool’ of the other party, but said one could not have operated without the other. She cited the need for deterrence and considered Lawrence’s guilty plea, health and age.