A 53-year-old father who, along with his wife involved their children in a series of frauds against insurance companies over a six-year period, has been jailed for two years.
Patrick Lawrence, along with his 52-year-old wife Eileen Lawrence, from Moyglas Glade in Lucan, and their two sons, Thomas and John Lawrence, all admitted claiming and trying to claim money from insurance companies in false names for road accidents and trips and falls.
Thomas and John, who were both children at the time, were given suspended sentences of one year each at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, while the judge said he wanted to reflect on the case of their mother and will sentence her next week.
The family admitted making a series of claims against insurance companies between 2010 and 2016.
Patrick Lawrence used a false name and claimed he had been injured five times to claim compensation for traffic accidents on the Quays in Dublin and a fall in Celbridge in Co Kildare.
He instructed solicitors, visited doctors and swore affidavits in false names. He succeeded in one claim and received €9,730.
In his defence, he claimed he has medical and psychiatric issues and regretted the offending.
He has six previous convictions and was jailed today for two years.
Thomas Lawrence, who is now 26, and his younger brother John, who is 24, were both children at the time they were involved.
Thomas tried to claim compensation for a trip and fall in Lucan, which was rejected, but John succeeded in one of four claims and was paid €6,155 for a traffic accident.
Claims for compensation for another traffic accident and two falls, including one in Tesco in Lucan, were rejected.
Both Thomas and John were given one-year suspended sentences.
Eileen Lawrence made five false claims in false names, and instructed solicitors, attended doctors and swore affidavits using the fake identities for road accidents and trips and falls in Lucan and Ballyfermot.
She succeeded in one and was paid €15,000 for a road traffic accident on the Coldcut Road.
Ms Lawrence was described as "the glue that keeps the family together" and is caring for children, a child with difficulties and her grandchildren. She has no previous convictions.
Her mother in law, Winnifred Lawrence, Patrick’s mother, who is serving a two-year sentence for similar offences, was named as a more serious and serial offender in court and defence counsel said that it was possible that Eileen saw the profit in what she was doing.
Judge Martin Nolan said he would need to reflect on her case and will sentence her next Tuesday.
