A jury has found a Co Louth man guilty of involvement in a £151,000 insurance fraud conspiracy in 1996 and has acquitted a retired garda of the same charge arising out of what was called "a dramatic accident that never happened".
James Murphy (44), a lorry-driver, Main Street, Castlebellingham, was remanded in custody by Judge Joseph Matthews at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentence on January 29th next.
Retired garda Mr Desmond McGonigle (58), Knockvicar, Boyle, Co Roscommon, was found not guilty by the jury and was discharged from the court by Judge Matthews.
The 10-1 majority guilty verdict on Murphy came after almost eight hours of deliberations on day 15 and found Mr McGonigle not guilty following three hours of further deliberation on day 16.
Murphy was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Guardian/PMPA (now Axa) by falsely pretending a traffic accident had occurred at Annaduff, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on January 28th, 1996 between a Rover car and a Scania tractor unit driven by him
The prosecution claimed that both men had conspired together and with Michael Byrne, Sligo Road, Longford; Michael McDonald, Rathcor, Riverstown, Dundalk, a director of Portfleet Ltd, owners of the transporter driven by Murphy; and Jeremiah O'Donovan, Fairview Terrace, Birr, Co Offaly, who was the Rover driver.
O'Donovan (44), pleaded guilty before the trial to his role in the conspiracy and was remanded for sentencing on the same date.