Kilcock woman escapes jail after €35,000 insurance fraud following staged accident

Ann Wilson, 44, admitted fraudulently claiming more than €35,000 after a low-speed collision at the Ballycullen roundabout on February 4, 2013.

A Kildare woman has avoided jail thanks to a suspended sentence after submitting a false insurance claim following a staged road accident in south Dublin.

Ann Wilson, 44, admitted fraudulently claiming more than €35,000 after a low-speed collision at the Ballycullen roundabout on February 4, 2013.

Wilson, of Ledwill Park, Kilcock, admitted causing insurer AXA to pay personal injury compensation between February 1, 2013 and July 15, 2014.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan gave Wilson a three-year suspended prison sentence due to her parental responsibilities towards her son, who is paralyzed following an unrelated accident.

Wilson’s partner, Thomas O’Neill (47), was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the fraud.

O’Neill, of Glenmore Green, Ballyboden, Dublin 16, pleaded guilty to fraud and was described by Judge Nolan as an “active participant”.

O’Neill’s sister Deirdre Mellor, 54, of Park na Gréine, Tallaght, received a two-year suspended sentence for attempted fraud.

She did not continue pursuing the insurance claim because it had expired.

AXA Insurance investigated the matter and learned on social media that all parties involved knew each other.

As a result of the staged incident, which was not reported to the police, Wilson received €21,595 for herself, €550 for property damage and €14,000 for her son.

None of the money was recovered.

Wilson has four convictions for driving offenses and O’Neill has 70 convictions, including dealing in stolen property.

Mellor has one conviction for driving without insurance.