Partner of murdered gangster seeks €250,000 life insurance pay out

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The action has been taken by Georgia Saunders over an insurance policy she and Mr Dunne entered into with the insurer in 2008.

Mr Dunne was murdered in April 2010 while attending a party in a pub in Cabra. He was on bail at the time, awaiting trial for armed robbery. He has been linked to approximately a dozen gangland murders.

In her action, Ms Saunders, who lives in the Netherlands, seeks an order that she is entitled to a payment from Irish Life on foot of the contract of insurance. She has also sought an order directing the insurer to specifically perform the contract of insurance which the High Court heard is worth €250,000.

Irish Life Assurance Plc opposes the action, and has declined to pay out on grounds including there was a failure to disclose certain relevant material when the couple were filling in the on line application for coverage.

A pre-trial motion in the action came before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on Wednesday.

Mairead McKenna BL for Irish Life said that as part of her client’s defence it had sought answers to certain questions from Ms Saunders.

The questions relate to visits made by Mr Dunne to various doctors from 2001 to 2006.

Irish Life wants to known if Mr Dunne’s doctors noted him as being on various medications to deal with sleep problems and anxiety.

Ms Saunders has also been asked if Mr Dunne had told a doctor he had been drinking eight cans a night, had been snorting cocaine, that he had been feeling depressed and was keen for a psychiatric referral.

In the application form, Mr Dunne had stated he did not suffer from a nervous disorder, had not suffered from or had treatment for any illness for a period of five years, and did not take drugs other than for medical purposes.

Ms Saunders had not given the answers to the requests, the court heard.

Due to the refusal the insurer was seeking permission from the court to issue a number formal questions to Ms Saunders. Counsel said if the information was being sought was provided it would save on court time and legal costs.

The application was opposed on grounds including that the information sought was not necessary and was oppressive. Information was sought relating to medical information that she had no knowledge of.

Ms Saunders commenced her relationship with Mr Dunne in 2007, the court heard.

In his ruling, the Judge said he was allowing Irish Life permission issue the formal questions to Ms Saunders. He did not accept that the questions put forward by Irish Life were vexatious, unnecessary and added that if answered would save on time and expense.

The judge said the replies should be provided within six weeks.

Aodhan O’Faolain, Ireland International News Agency Ltd.