A traffic manager who used a fake document to get discounted car insurance was fined €1,000 and given two suspended jail sentences

Vytautas Eidukas, of Anne Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was in court charged with two counts of fraud by using a false instrument.

Skibbereen District Court heard the defendant had lived in Caheragh, Drimoleague, at the time of the offences in September 2021. The applications for insurance were made online, after which the insurers had asked for additional documents to be submitted.

Prosecutor Insp Róisín O'Dea brought a case against the 45-year-old, presenting evidence  that Mr Eidukas used a fake no claims bonus certificate on online applications with two insurers, RSA via its subsidiary 123, as well as with Liberty.

The court heard that, because the document claimed he had not had an accident for nine years, Mr Eidukas had received a 85% discount on the RSA/123 policy, reducing it from the full price of nearly €1,500 to €515.  The court also heard that Mr Eidukas had effectively received free car insurance for two weeks while the additional documents for his first application were being checked.

In evidence given during an interview with Bantry Gda Sgt O’Shea at Leitrim Garda Station, Mr Eidukas said he had just phoned around looking for cheap insurance.

The court heard that Mr Eidukas first application with RSA/123 had been declined because the no claims document, allegedly issued by AXA, was believed to be false. The court heard that a second application for car insurance was then submitted to Liberty. In this application a question about whether car insurance had previously been declined by another insurer had been answered ‘No’.

Prosecutor Insp Róisín O'Dea asked: ‘Why did you say no then?’, to which the defendant replied: ‘I don’t understand.’

Following further questioning by Insp O’Dea, Judge Carroll said: ‘It’s a good idea to examine your memory before you come to court.’

Representatives from all three insurance companies (RSA/123, Liberty and Axa) gave evidence in court.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said his client was from Lithuania and had lived in Ireland for the past 21 years. Mr Murphy said Mr Eidukas had a long-time job as an operations manager for a traffic management company, setting up and managing stop-and-go systems all over the country. He had lived in Drimoleague from 2020 for one year and had a 17-year-old daughter with his ex-wife who had recently died, the court heard.

Mr Murphy said there were some irregularities regarding dates on police charge sheets and interview documents about his client.

Referring to statutory powers under Order 38 of the District Court Rules to amend dates and other information on police documents, Judge Joanne Carroll said: ‘The state did not make the application to amend but I am doing it under my own remit.’

As Mr Eidukas was called to the witness stand and gave evidence, Judge Carroll said: ‘He’s not sitting in a public house I expect that this man knows he’s in a court of law.’

Mr Eidukas said: ‘I did not send my documents to any insurance company. I used an insurance broker. I don’t remember his name.’

The court heard that Mr Eidukas had one previous conviction for drink driving, committed on January 25^th 2019. At the time he received a €250 fine and was disqualified from driving for two years

Judge Carroll said she had absolutely no doubt the defendant was guilty of the charges.

Solicitor Flor Murphy said: ‘I would ask you to be lenient because he is the sole carer for his 17-year-old daughter. Her mother died a month ago.’

Judge Carroll gave Mr Eidukas a four-months jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, in relation to the insurance application with RSA / 123. She also issued a €500 fine with five months to pay. For the fraud charge relating to Liberty insurance, the judge gave Mr Eidukas a second four-months jail term, suspended for 18 months and to run consecutively to the first term, if triggered. The judge issued a further €500 in relation to the second fraud charge with six months to pay. Recognisance for €100 cash was fixed for each offence, in case the defendant wished to lodge an appeal.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.