The Irish Times reported on the 2nd March 2011 that Mr Justice John Quirke of the High Court Dublin is to hold a separate Hearing into whether plumber Leo McKenna of Tullyhall Drive, Lucan, County Dublin gave false evidence in his compensation claim against his employer – see Report . Initially McKenna claimed that he was unable to work for 9½ years but subsequently at the Hearing reduced that period to 6 months.
Section 25 of the Civil liability & Courts Act 2004 makes it a criminal offence for anyone to knowingly give false or misleading evidence in a Personal Injuries Action. For more information, see the Litigation and Accident Claims section of the Morgan McManus website on the Civil Liability & Courts Act 2004 – . There is no doubt that the High Court Judge had this section in mind when he subsequently warned the Plaintiff Mr McKenna that he did not have to answer in cross-examination any question which might incriminate him.
Other Plaintiffs have in the more recent past had their Claims dismissed for giving false and misleading evidence. A message is now being very clearly sent out that Plaintiffs who give false evidence in their compensation claims risk imprisonment.