Ireland Kildare man on bail over illegal King Kong Media TV streaming service
Ciaran Donovan (41), a man from Ashfield, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty last July to laundering hundreds of thousands of euro from selling an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service between January 2016 and March 2022. The service remained accessible after his plea and while he was on bail, and in April his bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody by Judge Martina Baxter of the Circuit Criminal Court. He was released on one week's bail in May so the service could be shut down, and a court in Naas was told on 29 May that it had been closed since. New related charges are due in the District Court on June 5, and he has been remanded on continuing bail to July 12, when he is expected to be sentenced.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 May
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ciaran Donovan (41), a married father of two, pleaded guilty to laundering hundreds of thousands of euro from selling an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service.
- Where
- Donovan is from Ashfield, Co Kildare.
- When
- The laundering covered the period from January 2016 to March 2022.
- Cause
- A criminal group most likely based in the UK set up the illegal access system.
- Investigation
- The service was reported removed, and a court in Naas was told it had been closed down since Donovan was released on bail.
- In court
- The illegal service, used by thousands of users, remained accessible after Donovan's plea and while he was on bail.
- In April his bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody by Judge Martina Baxter of the Circuit Criminal Court because of the continued availability of the service.
- Judge Baxter said the service had not been shut down earlier while Donovan was on bail.
- Donovan was released on one week's bail after the prosecution suggested this so the service could be shut down.
- Charges
- Donovan is due to enter a plea on June 5 in the District Court to new related charges about the continued operation of the illegal service.
- Sentence
- Donovan was remanded on continuing bail to July 12, when he is expected to be sentenced.
- Other details
- As a bail condition, Donovan agreed to meet a Sky TV representative and a Garda member to hand over codes and URL details.
- Subscribers in this jurisdiction paid around €70 a year for the service.
- Sky and BT Sports were among the TV services that suffered substantial losses.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCiaran Donovan pleaded guilty to laundering hundreds of thousands of euro from selling an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDonovan is from Ashfield, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe laundering covered the period from January 2016 to March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution said the service had been removed. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan is due to enter a plea on June 5th in the District Court to new related charges about the continued operation of the illegal service. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe illegal service remained accessible after Donovan's plea and while he was on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIn April his bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody by Judge Martina Baxter of the Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan was released on one week's bail so the service could be shut down. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Baxter said the service had not been shut down earlier when Donovan was on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDonovan was remanded on continuing bail to July 12th, when he is expected to be sentenced. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonovan agreed as a bail condition to meet a Sky TV representative and a Garda member to hand over codes and URL details. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA criminal group most likely based in the UK set up the illegal access system. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSubscribers in this jurisdiction paid around €70 a year for the service. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSky and BT Sports were among the TV services that suffered substantial losses. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 May2024‘Dodgy box’ TV service has been closed down since man released on bail, court told
Court hearing in Naas on the bail status of Ciaran Donovan, who is awaiting sentence for money laundering. The service was reported removed and new charges are due to be dealt with in the District Court on 5 June.
accused, Ciaran Donovan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan