A family with a history of 26 claims has the latest batch dismissed as the judge orders legal cost penalties
A Dublin family previously linked to over two dozen personal injury lawsuits now faces a crippling legal bill of up to €150,000, after a judge dismissed six new damages claims—all of which were filed against the same motorist.
Frank and Sylvia Gaynor, both aged 60, along with four family members, lodged claims seeking €360,000 in total. But none of them appeared in the Circuit Civil Court for the scheduled hearing, prompting the presiding judge to strike out the cases in their entirety.
The court heard that the Gaynors had been connected to 26 prior personal injury claims, raising red flags over potential claim abuse. The most recent batch of filings involved alleged injuries from a road traffic collision, but their sudden non-appearance left the court questioning the legitimacy of the cases.
Barrister John Smith, representing the defendant motorist, said the plaintiffs may have “seen what was coming down the track” and deliberately opted out of attending. Their failure to show up was not explained to the court, nor were any medical records or witnesses produced in support of the injuries claimed.
The judge noted the repeated involvement of the family in personal injury litigation and expressed concern over patterns of conduct that could signal systematic abuse of the legal process.
With no plaintiffs present and no evidence offered, the judge dismissed all six claims with costs awarded to the defence. Legal experts estimate the family could now be liable for up to €150,000 in defence fees and expenses.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis is not the first time the Gaynors have attracted legal scrutiny. Their previous claims have spanned whiplash injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, and minor collisions, many of which have also ended in dismissal or settlement for far lower amounts than initially sought.
The court’s decision this week signals a hardening stance against serial personal injury claimants, especially in the wake of rising insurance premiums and growing public scepticism of opportunistic lawsuits.
Speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice, a solicitor for the defendant said: “This result sends a clear message: the courts will not tolerate fabricated or exaggerated claims. If you make allegations in court, you’d better show up to back them.”
Meanwhile, legal observers say the ruling may be used as precedent for other cases involving habitual litigants, especially where there is a history of claims and suspicious patterns of injury or incident.
The family now faces not only financial ruin if ordered to pay the costs in full, but also potential further investigations into their prior claims, which may involve both the courts and insurance fraud investigators.
With legal reforms and heightened scrutiny on ‘claims farming’, particularly in Ireland’s congested civil courts, this case could become emblematic of a broader effort to curb compensation culture.
The Gaynors have not issued any public comment, and it remains unclear whether they intend to challenge the cost order or pursue any form of appeal. However, with six claims already thrown out and no legal defence offered, their prospects appear bleak.
