Shannon woman forged medical report

A SHANNON woman, who falsified a medical document in order to substantiate a personal injury claim against a Limerick shopping centre, has ended up in court herself, on charges of deceiving her solicitor and of forgery.

Tracy O’Connell, (33), of 21 Cúl na Gréine, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, where it was outlined that she had instructed a solicitor to take a case against the Crescent Shopping Centre for an alleged fall and used a forged medical report to substantiate her claim.

O’Connell pleaded guilty to dishonestly by deception, inducing James Shanahan, a solicitor with Sixmilebridge-based firm Bowen and Company, to commence proceedings in a personal injury claim with the intention of making again for herself on November 26, 2015 at The Oakwood Arms Hotel, Shannon.

She also admitted making a false medical report in relation to a personal injury claim with intent to induce another person to accept it as genuine on a date unknown between September 22, 2015 and November 26, 2015.

She is further charged that on November 26, 2015, at The Oakwood Arms, Shannon, she used the medical report, which was false and which she knew or believed to be false, with the intent to induce another person to accept it as genuine.

Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecuting, outlined that O’Connell went to solicitor, James Shanahan instructing him that she had been injured in a fall at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick and she supplied a medical report.

“Investigations revealed that the medical report was not completed by Mr Peter Flynn, but it had been completed by her to substantiate a claim,” he said.
Ms O’Connell entered a plea of guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned for evidence to be heard until January 11 next.

By Carol Byrne