Eileen Lawrence receives suspended sentence for insurance fraud

A woman from a family involved in insurance fraud has received a suspended prison sentence. Eileen Lawrence, 52, along with her husband and two sons, committed fraud by filing fake personal injury claims. These claims were made under false names for accidents and falls between 2010 and 2016, and took place at their home in Lucan, Dublin. The family's illegal activities came to light when an insurance company hired a private investigator. Most of their claims were denied, but some resulted in payouts. Eileen's mother-in-law, Winnifred Lawrence, was sentenced to prison last year for similar offenses. Eileen and her husband, Patrick Lawrence, 54, both pleaded guilty to fraud. Their sons, Tom, 24, and John, 26, also admitted to their involvement. Last Friday, a judge sentenced Patrick to two years in prison. Tom and John received one-year suspended sentences. For Eileen, the judge recognized her significant role in the fraud but decided against imprisonment due to her family duties. He handed her a three-year suspended sentence. The judge noted the family's extensive history of fraudulent claims and the seriousness of the offenses. The Lawrence family had submitted false claims to hide their previous attempts and received payment on some occasions. They were arrested in 2019 after the investigation uncovered the truth about their activities.