Insurance reform in the media
SATURDAY
Connaught Telegraph, 30/11/19
Mayo local authority pays out €4.2m in insurance claims
Mayo County Council’s insurers paid almost €2.4 million in insurance claims in the county over the last two years, according to data which has been released by the council, writes Claire McNamara. The average of the 96 settlements amounted to €7,529 in 2017 and the average of the 157 settlements in 2018 came to €10,661.
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The Independent, 30/11/19
Man awarded €30,000 for garda’s drugs search when he was just 13
The State has been ordered to pay €30,000 compensation to a man following a drugs search carried out on him by a garda nine years ago, when he was aged 13. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Kathryn Hutton awarded the sum to Brandon Wallace, now aged 22, for the psychological trauma suffered as a result of the search on him by an Ardnacrusha-based officer in the grounds of a church at Westbury, on the outskirts of Limerick city, on October 2, 2010.
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SUNDAY
The Times, 01/12/19
Store security cannot guard against ‘defamed’ customers
A company that supplies security services to about 80 stores across Ireland has claimed it is “open season” for people to bring defamation actions against retailers, with the firm receiving two cases a month from customers who claim to have been wrongly accused of stealing.
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98 FM, 01/12/19
No insurance quotes forces gym to stop teen fitness classes
A Celbridge CrossFit gym has been forced to cancel health and fitness classes for teenagers after failing to get insurance. The company’s been holding youth training and nutrition classes since 2013 but this year they couldn’t even get a quote.
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The Independent, 01/12/19
Healy-Rae Jnr got €16,500 compensation from GAA after ‘clash of heads’
Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr received €16,500 in compensation from the GAA after a clash of heads with another player during a training session in his local club. Mr Healy-Rae took legal action against the sporting body after he collided with another player while playing hurling in Kilgarvan GAA Club.
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MONDAY
The Independent, 02/12/19
New law to make it more difficult for insurers not to pay out for valid claims
New legislation is set to turn the tables on insurers and massively benefit consumers. The Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill has been described as the most radical shake-up of consumer legislation in centuries in this country. The bill is expected to become law early in the new year.
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The Independent, 02/12/19
Four family members face costs of up to€100k after damages claim thrown out
Four passengers who claimed to have been injured in what was described as a low impact accident near Blanchardstown Shopping Centre have each had their €60,000 damages claim thrown out with costs against them. Now, instead of walking from court with potential awards totalling €240,000, Antoinette Mullen (67) and her two sons Daniel and Damian Fahy, and daughter Lindsay Fahy, all of Fortlawn Drive, Moat View, Clonsilla, Dublin, face costs bills of up to €25,000 each.
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The Independent, 02/12/19
Judge criticises insurance company for accusing solicitors firm of misconduct
A Judge has criticised an insurance company for accusing a solicitors firm of misconduct after it lodged appeals on behalf of three personal injury claimants who were involved in a minor collision. Aviva Insurance sought a wasted costs order against O’Shaughnessy Bairead solicitors in Edenderry, Co Offaly after three clients withdrew their appeals last week “at the eleventh hour”.
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TUESDAY
The Irish Times, 03/12/19
Defamation actions over alleged Red Bull theft dismissed
A woman’s defamation action over her claim she had been accused of shoplifting a can of Red Bull has been dismissed by the High Court. Winnie O’Donnell, Tor An Rí Lane, Balgaddy, Lucan, Co Dublin, sued Musgrave Ireland, operators of a Centra Store in Lucan.
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The Irish Examiner, 03/12/19
Defamation claim over perceived accusation women had shoplifted can of Red Bull is dismissed
A woman’s defamation action over her claim she had been accused of shoplifting a can of Red Bull has been dismissed by the High Court. Winnie O’Donnell, Tor An Ri Lane, Balgaddy, Lucan, Co Dublin, sued Musgrave Ireland, operators of a Centra Store at Griffeen Way, Lucan.
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The Irish Times, 03/12/19
Disability organisations threatened by rising insurance costs and staff shortages
Rising insurance costs are among a number of issues threatening the future survival of disability organisations providing vital services to tens of thousands of people across the country. At its launch on Tuesday, the Disability Action Coalition (DAC) said it is to begin pre-election lobbying for €20 million in additional annual funding – it says the relatively small sum can plug operating deficits.
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Mayo News, 03/12/19
Neck enough for anything
That old charge that we Irish are generously endowed with brass necks is a myth which can finally be put to rest. In fact, the evidence is there to show that the average Irish man or woman has the most sensitive, the most delicate, the most tender windpipe known to science.
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WEDNESDAY
The Irish Examiner, 04/12/19
Man suing for injuries has case thrown out after taking part in 10km obstacle course
A man who claimed he could no longer carry out manual labour and was unable to raise his arm above his head without pain after his car was rear-ended had his case for damages thrown out when the judge was shown Facebook pictures of the plaintiff participating in a 10km obstacle course.
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BreakingNews.ie, 04/12/19
Marathon runner awarded €15k damages after injuries from fall while training
A mother of three who injured her feet, knees and wrist in a fall while training for a marathon, has been awarded €15,000 damages against Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council. Forty-six-year-old Lisa Nagle, of Beechdale Way, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, was also awarded her costs which, together with the County Council’s legal expenses, is likely to cost the local authority another minimum of €30,000.
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The Southern Star, 04/12/19
Opinion: Reform of defamation legislation
While progress on the review of the Defamation Act 2009 by the Department of Justice is being made, it is not nearly fast enough and needs to be stepped up considerably. The Act is subject to five-yearly reviews, with the first having been due in 2014, yet this still hasn’t been completed.
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THURSDAY
Dundalk Democrat, 05/12/19
Councillor reveals 18 year old Dundalk man quoted €12,300 for motor insurance
Sinn Féin councillor Ruairí Ó Murchú has described his “astonishment” at personal testimony from people in Dundalk regarding the insurance industry. The general election candidate for Louth was speaking following a public meeting ‘Insurance – Stop the Rip Off’ which Sinn Féin held in the Imperial Hotel, Dundalk last night.
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RTE, 05/12/19
Athy RFC facing closure after 140 years of existence
The future of the 140-year-old Athy Rugby Club is in serious doubt due to the club’s difficulty in securing public liability insurance. Athy said they are having “grave difficulty” trying to find an insurer because of two claims, one historic and one pending.
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RTE, 05/12/19
How can Ireland address its ‘compo culture’?
The future of the 140-year-old Athy Rugby Club is in serious doubt due to the club’s difficulty in securing public liability insurance. Athy said they are having “grave difficulty” trying to find an insurer because of two claims, one historic and one pending.
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FRIDAY
The Irish Times, 06/11/19
Insurance industry’s ‘compo culture’ spin is the dodgiest claim of all
The problem with the narrative that says a “compo culture” has caused a recent surge in insurance premiums is that it is a ball of smoke fuelled by prejudice and innuendo. It is the insurance industry’s gift to modern shaming culture.
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