Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 18909Possession of protection-defeating devices (dodgy boxes) · Co. Dublin · 14 Feb 2019

Dublin man given suspended sentence for selling 81 'dodgy boxes'

Noel Robinson, a 50-year-old man, sold 81 Android TV boxes, also known as firesticks or dodgy boxes, which let users get Sky free without a subscription. A Sky anti-piracy investigator bought a box from him for €150, and gardaí searched his home at Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, on 14 February 2019. Robinson later pleaded guilty to possessing the boxes, which contain protection-defeating software. On 11 December 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended in full for three years on strict conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Noel Robinson sold 81 Android TV boxes, also known as firesticks or dodgy boxes.
Where
The boxes were possessed at Robinson's home at Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin.
When
The possession offence took place on 14 February 2019.
Cause
The boxes unencrypt the Sky network so users can get Sky free, bypassing a subscription costing €126 per month.
Investigation
  • A Sky anti-piracy investigator identified a profile selling Android TV boxes on Adverts.ie in January 2019 and bought a box from Robinson for €150.
  • Gardaí obtained a warrant and searched the house on 14 February 2019, and Robinson cooperated fully and made full admissions.
Charges
Robinson pleaded guilty to possessing the boxes, which contain protection-defeating software.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe.
  • The judge accepted that Robinson had an unblemished record, no previous convictions, and had not come to garda attention since.
Sentence
On 11 December 2023 Judge Crowe imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended in full for three years on strict conditions.
Other details
  • The prosecution said Sky Broadcasting faced a potential loss of €102,060.
  • The garda agreed that Robinson's profit was €13,625, withdrawn from his AIB account, and gardaí found his PayPal account contained $50,000 over two years.
  • Robinson had an alcohol addiction at the time and has not drunk alcohol since February 2020.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRobinson sold 81 Android TV boxes, also known as firesticks or dodgy boxes. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoel Robinson pleaded guilty to possessing the boxes, which contain protection-defeating software. (rte.ie)
  • whatRobinson sold 81 Android TV boxes. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe boxes were possessed at Robinson's home at Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe boxes were possessed in Robinson's home at Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe possession offence took place on 14 February 2019. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe possession occurred on 14 February 2019. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe boxes allow users to unencrypt the Sky network for free. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe Android devices unencrypt the Sky network so users can get Sky on their television for free. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe boxes can circumvent the Sky subscription, which costs €126 per month. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA Sky anti-piracy investigator identified a profile selling Android TV boxes on Adverts.ie. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe Sky investigator bought an Android box from Robinson for €150. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a warrant to search the house on 14 February, and Robinson cooperated fully and made full admissions. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA member of Sky's anti-piracy investigation team identified a profile on Adverts.ie selling Android TV boxes in January 2019. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe Sky investigator bought an Android box from Robinson's house for €150. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a warrant and searched the house on 14 February. (rte.ie)
  • investigationRobinson cooperated fully and made full admissions. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRobinson pleaded guilty to possessing the boxes, which contain protection-defeating software. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe accepted that Robinson had an unblemished record previously. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Crowe imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended in full for three years on strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceRobinson was given an 18-month suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe 18-month prison sentence was suspended in full for three years on strict conditions. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said Sky Broadcasting faced a potential loss of €102,060. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí found that Robinson's PayPal account contained $50,000 over two years. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe garda agreed that Robinson's profit was €13,625, withdrawn from his AIB account. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherRobinson had no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention since. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherRobinson has not drunk alcohol since February 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution claimed Sky Broadcasting faced a potential loss of €102,060. (rte.ie)
  • otherRobinson's profit from the boxes was €13,625, withdrawn from his AIB account. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Dec2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man given suspended sentence for selling 'dodgy boxes'

    Reports the sentencing of Noel Robinson at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the court's reasoning, the prosecution's loss estimate and mitigation. No existing case matched.

    convicted, Noel Robinson, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Robinson
  2. 11 Dec2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Dublin man who sold 81 'dodgy boxes' given suspended sentence

    Reports the sentencing of Noel Robinson, including the court's acceptance of his unblemished record, the Sky investigation, the search and the sentence imposed on 11 December 2023.

    convicted, Noel Robinson, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Robinson