Judge’s insurance suspicions over kids not strapped in

A judge has issued a warning to two members of the same extended family who do not put their children in child restraints in their cars, that they will be disqualified from driving if she suspects they are making insurance claims for injuries to their children.

Judge Mary Fahy said this week that insurance premiums have gone up for everyone in the country by 15% because of the increase in claims.

“It’s a deliberate policy by some people to drive their cars like this, so that if there is any sort of a accident, they make a claim.

“It’s something that an eye should be kept on, firstly, because of the issue of child safety, and secondly, there is a insurance issue involved here.

“Everybody’s insurance in the country has been put up by 15% because of these type of claims.

“It shouldn’t happen and it’s something that should be treated more seriously,” Judge Fahy said at Galway District Court this week.

The judge made the comments after dealing with Ana-Mirabela Grancia (25), of 41 An Turnog, Headford Road, Galway, who was detected driving her car last St Patrick’s Day while a three-year-old girl was standing in the footwell of the front passenger’s seat without being properly restrained.

Grancia pleaded guilty to a summons of failing to restrain a child aged under three years in her car. She was fined €150.

Judge Fahy wanted to know if the accused was related to Ludovic Puiu Macula (22), 35 An Turnog, Headford Road, who had been convicted moments before of a similar offence.

He had pleaded guilty to failing to properly restrain two children, aged under three years of age, in his car and to not wearing a seat belt himself on March 26 last at Newcastle Road.

Judge Fahy had fined him €100 for each of the child restraint offences along with a €60 fine for himself for not wearing a seat belt.

On hearing the evidence against Grancia, the judge noticed the evidence in both cases was similar and she asked if she was related to Makula who had been dealt with moments before.

Garda Ryan said she was related and was married to one of the Grancia family.

Judge Fahy warned both Makula and Grancia that if they were brought before the court again with similar offences she would disqualify them.

“I’m concerned that people are deliberately doing this, because liability cannot be an issue when it’s a child.

“There can be no contributory negligence when it’s a child,” Judge Fahy said.

“If I find that there is a pattern, I will be dealing with this very seriously and you will be disqualified.”