Ireland Man awaiting sentence over illegal streaming app remanded in custody
Ciaran Donovan, a 41-year-old man from Ashfield, Kildare, ran an app in Ireland linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service, which gave access to Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription channels, from January 2016 to March 2022. He pleaded guilty in July to money laundering. At a hearing reported on 17 April 2024, he was charged in the District Court with a related offence linked to an investigator's renewal of a Sky subscription in March, and Judge Martina Baxter remanded him in custody, to appear again in two weeks, although he had been on bail. He is awaiting sentence in the Circuit Criminal Court, and the illegal service was still operating as of the weekend before the hearing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted17 Apr
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ciaran Donovan, a man aged 41, ran an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service.
- The illegal service gave access to Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription TV services for about €70 a year.
- Where
- The app was operated in Ireland and gave access to an international illegal service organised by others, most likely in the UK.
- When
- The app was sold from January 2016 to March 2022.
- Other details
- Bank accounts linked to the operation had €470,511 pass through them.
- The loss to Sky from the customers involved was estimated at more than €2 million.
- The illegal service was still operating as of the weekend before the hearing.
- Donovan has 41 previous convictions.
- He is a married father of two from Ashfield, Kildare.
- Charges
- Donovan pleaded guilty in July to money laundering.
- He was charged in the District Court with a related offence linked to an investigator's renewal of a Sky subscription in March.
- In court
- He is awaiting sentence in the Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter.
- Sentence
- Judge Baxter remanded him in custody to appear again in two weeks, although he had been on bail.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe illegal service gave access to Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription TV services for about €70 a year. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonovan ran an app in Ireland that gave access to an international illegal service organised by others, most likely in the UK. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBank accounts linked to Donovan's operation had seen €470,511 pass through them. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe loss to Sky from the customers involved was estimated at more than €2 million. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty in July to money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNew District Court charges were linked to an investigator's renewal of a Sky subscription in March. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan is awaiting sentence in the Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martina Baxter remanded Donovan in custody to appear again in two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe illegal service was still operating as of the weekend before the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonovan had 41 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Apr2024Man convicted of operating ‘dodgy box’ service remanded in custody
Reports a sentencing hearing in which Donovan was remanded in custody, a new District Court charge linked to a renewed Sky subscription, and details of the bank accounts, loss estimate and previous convictions.
convicted, Ciaran Donovan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan