https://www.thesun.ie/news/6279698/couple-car-accidents-court-empty-handed-minor-brush/CLAIM FAIL Compo chasing couple leave Meath court empty-handed after suing for up to €120k for minor bumper brushEXCLUSIVE
Gary Meneely
14 Dec 2020, 7:30 Updated: 14 Dec 2020, 9:44
A COMPO chasing couple sued for up to €120,000 over a minor bumper brush - but left court empty-handed after their dodgy personal injury claims failed.
Investigators uncovered George and Marianna Varga have 14 road traffic accidents linked to their address in Tallanstown, Co Louth.
In their latest compo bid, pastor George alleged neck and arm injuries after a minor prang while housewife Marianna claimed neck, chest, arm and head pain.
The Romanian pair filed separate damages claims for up to €60,000 each, saying they were “severely jolted”, “shocked” and “shaken” when a rental vehicle reversed into them in a car park in Trim, Co Meath.
But a court heard the impact was a maximum of just three miles per hour, with no significant damage to either vehicle.
Despite the low impact, schemer George insisted on going to the local garda station and reporting the accident in the immediate aftermath of the car park incident.
Trim Circuit Court heard the 57-year-old plaintiff did not inform cops he was injured at the time — and the sequence of events involved him going to his doctor after first contacting his solicitor.
CASE THROWN OUT
Chancer George also failed to mention a series of other compo claims he and his wife have made over road traffic matters until they were laid bare in court by the defendants Hertz Rent A Car.
In his ruling, Judge Patrick Quinn threw out the brass-necked father-of-seven’s latest compo bid and ordered him to pay costs — estimated at €20,000.
The judge insisted the injury complaints “could not have resulted” from the minor contact between the vehicles.
Judge Quinn declared: “The contact was of minimal nature and not of the nature that would give rise to the claim being made by the plaintiff.”
After her husband’s personal injury suit was dismissed, Mrs Varga was asked whether she wished to proceed with her case.
Following a short consultation with her legal team, the 45-year-old withdrew her proceedings.
'FINISHED'
The Irish Sun confronted serial compo claimer George as the couple left the court building.
He moaned: “The judge gave me no money.”
Asked by our reporter how he felt about his civil case being chucked out, he said: “Very bad. I don’t know what happened here.
“I don’t have a claim, I don’t get money, you know. Finished. Bye.”
Questioned about whether he was sorry for bringing the spurious claim, the foul-mouthed pastor replied: “Leave me alone. F*** you.”
The married couple drove off from Trim Courthouse in an upmarket Mercedes S-Class, with fuming George giving our reporter the finger.
'TISSUE OF LIES'
Grasping George and Marianna brought personal injuries claims for up to €60,000 a pop against Hertz Rent A Car after the minor collision with one of their vehicles in a car park near Trim Castle on May 28, 2015.
Giving evidence to Trim Circuit Court on Friday, George alleged he was left in agony after the prang.
The plaintiff claimed he experienced “immediate shooting pain in his neck that went into his left arm”, with the symptoms lasting for around four months.
But barrister Eve Bolster, instructed by solicitor Michael Brennan for Hertz, described the case as “a tissue of lies”.
Ms Bolster highlighted how it was a minimal impact accident, with the court hearing it occurred at a maximum speed of between two and three miles per hour.
The barrister revealed there were no injuries reported in either motor at the time of the accident, and no injury was ever claimed from the three American tourist occupants of the rental vehicle.
Under cross-examination, George admitted he rang his solicitor after he reported the accident at Trim garda station — and sought legal advice before he went for medical treatment.
LIMITED DAMAGE
Photos were produced in court which only showed limited damage to the vehicles involved.
The court was told the damage to the Hertz rental vehicle was “barely noticeable” by a garda who inspected the Skoda Octavia just after the accident.
The court was also told George failed to submit receipts for any repair work carried out on his Merc to support his compo case.
When questioned by the judge, the compo claimant said he paid “a Lituanian guy” in Ardee €1,500 to do some paint work for him on the motor following the accident — but failed to provide his name or address, saying he was “gone” from the area.
During the hearing, the pastor had repeatedly claimed in his evidence that he was not asked by cops if he had suffered any injuries at the time of the prang.
But Garda William Stynes informed the judge he specifically asked Varga if he was hurt — and testified the compo man said he was not.
In his pleadings and evidence to the court, George had sworn that no legal proceedings in relation to other road traffic incidents had been brought by him.
Asked by the judge if he had settled any cases with insurance companies directly, he also replied: “No.”
ACCIDENT HISTORY
But the court heard investigators for Hertz had discovered 14 road traffic accidents linked to the Vargas’ address in Tallanstown.
Bolster quizzed the plaintiff on his accident history and asked him to account for why he hadn’t disclosed a string of separate compo claims. He said: “I don’t remember.”
Among the accidents the serial compo claimant testified that he didn’t remember was the flipping of a car in 2013 and a personal injury claim in 2018.
As George’s extensive accident and claims history was outlined to the court, he added: “I want to say the truth. I am a pastor in the church. I don’t want to lie.”
Judge Quinn said: “The plaintiff was vigorously cross-examined (in court)…and it seems to me that the plaintiff was found wanting in his evidence in a number of material respects.”
The judge said: “In addition, it seems to me that the plaintiff has been less inclined to help the court in relation to prior accidents.
“There seems to be a long history of a series of accidents arising out of the plaintiff’s household.”
