A court has heard how a Dublin-based Garda threatened to break the legs of a car dealer in Trim, Co. Meath.

John Fogarty is based at Dundrum Garda Station and is on trial for alleged insurance fraud. The 27-year-old denies lying on his insurance claim.

It is alleged he crashed his sports car on the M50 in January 2008 but secured just over €10,000 in compensation from Quinn Direct after reporting it stolen.

Christopher Kelly - a convicted stolen cars dealer - has been giving evidence today.

He claims Fogarty sent the car to his customs shop in Trim for repairs but was not happy with the work carried out. Mr. Kelly says he was bombarded by hundreds of angry and threatening text messages from the accused.

He told the court that Fogarty threatened to break his legs and made threats against his family and warned him that he came from a hardened family.

As a result, Kelly said he was forced to acquire the services of an “unsavoury character" who sourced a similar car and stripped it for parts.

Fogarty seemed happy with the end result, but Kelly claims he approached him once more and asked him to steal it as he was having trouble selling it.

The serving Garda denies carrying out the fraud and also says he did not harass Mr. Kelly. The trial continues before Judge Sarah Berkeley and a jury.