Ireland Ciaran Donovan remanded in custody pending sentencing over money laundering from illegal streaming service
Ciaran Donovan (42), from Ashfield, Co Kildare, was convicted of laundering more than €900,000 linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service, which sold yearly subscriptions giving access to copyrighted Sky Sports and BT Sports channels. The laundering offences relate to January 2016 to March 2022, and he pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, shutting the service down at Kildare Garda station while on bail. He appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court on a Friday (reported 12 July 2024), where the defence asked for community service. The judge remanded him in custody pending sentencing, listed for 31 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted12 Jul
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ciaran Donovan, 42, was convicted of laundering more than €900,000 from an illegal streaming service.
- Accounts linked to Donovan's operation saw a total of €470,511 pass through them.
- Where
- Donovan is from Ashfield, Co Kildare, and the service was the King Kong Media illegal "dodgy box" streaming service.
- When
- The laundering offences relate to selling an app linked to King Kong Media between January 2016 and March 2022.
- Cause
- Users paid a yearly €70 subscription for codes giving access to copyrighted Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription television services.
- Charges
- Donovan pleaded guilty to three charges of money laundering; one report refers to a single charge of money laundering.
- Investigation
- While on bail, Donovan shut down the service at Kildare Garda station in the presence of gardaí and Sky representatives.
- In court
- Donovan appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court on a Friday, reported as 12 July 2024.
- Sentence
- The judge remanded Donovan in custody pending sentencing, listed for 31 July.
- The defence asked the judge to consider community service as a sentence.
- Other details
- The prosecution estimated Sky's losses from the two offences at more than €4 million.
- The judge described the offences as serious and said ongoing operation of the service after his admissions was an aggravating feature.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDonovan was convicted of laundering more than €900,000 from an illegal streaming service. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAccounts linked to Donovan's operation saw a total of €470,511 pass through them. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDonovan is from Ashfield, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe laundering offences relate to selling an app linked to King Kong Media between January 2016 and March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationWhile on bail, Donovan shut down the service at Kildare Garda station in the presence of gardaí and Sky representatives. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty to three charges of money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge remanded Donovan in custody pending sentencing, listed for July 31st. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe defence asked the judge to consider community service as a sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution estimated Sky's losses from the two offences at more than €4 million. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge described Donovan's offences as serious and said ongoing operation of the service after his admissions was an aggravating feature. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Jul2024‘Dodgy box’ TV service operator remanded in custody
Reports Donovan's conviction for laundering over €900,000, his remand in custody pending sentencing listed for July 31st, and the prosecution's estimate of Sky's losses. Also reports the defence's mitigation and that he shut down the service at Kildare Garda station while on bail.
convicted, Ciaran Donovan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan