The Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act has been
signed into law by the president. This act will see individuals who
are proven to have misinformed the courts or exaggerated losses,
injuries, or damages facing the prospect of prosecution.
With maximum sentences of 10 years in prison and fines of up to
€100,000, these measures should act as a deterrent to
individuals to get involved in future fraudulent or inflated claims
and an excellent tool for the judiciary to use against individuals
involved in fraudulent or inflated claims.
Individuals such as claimants, legal professionals and other
expert witnesses need to consider implications of getting involved
with fraudulent or inflated claims. For the insurance industry, it
is a welcome piece of legislation to help in the fight against the
claims culture slipping into Irish society and also to tackle
insurance fraud.
