Ireland Case No. 5313Possession of proceeds of crime (money laundering) · Co. Kildare
Man sentenced for money laundering from illegal streaming service in Kildare
Ciaran Donovan, a 41-year-old man from Ashfield, Co Kildare (reports differ at 42), pleaded guilty in July 2023 to money laundering arising from his operation of an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service, which gave thousands of users access to copyrighted Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription TV channels for about €70 a year between January 2016 and March 2022. He was sent forward for trial in June 2023, and his bail was revoked in April 2024 after the service was found still operating. In June 2024 he faced further charges for laundering over €430,000 between October 2021 and November 2023, and in July 2024 he was convicted of laundering more than €900,000. On 31 July 2024, Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court sentenced him to three years and four months with the final two years suspended, leaving 16 months to serve.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court14 Jul
4 reports - Convicted17 Apr
2 reports - Sentenced31 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Donovan operated an app in Ireland linked to King Kong Media, an illegal streaming service organised by a group most likely based in the UK, giving users access to copyrighted Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription TV services for about €70 a year.
- Bank accounts linked to Donovan's operation saw €470,511 pass through them, and he was convicted of laundering more than €900,000.
- When
- The offending period was January 2016 to March 2022, with later charges covering October 2021 to November 2023.
- Where
- Court proceedings took place at Naas District Court and Naas Circuit Criminal Court, Co Kildare.
- Investigation
- The case followed an investigation initiated by Sky TV's anti-piracy unit.
- Charges
- Donovan pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing the proceeds of crime under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
- In June 2024 he faced further charges for laundering over €430,000 between October 2021 and November 2023.
- In court
- In April 2024 his bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody after the service was found still operating, and he was later released on one week's bail to shut down the service at Kildare Garda station.
- Sentence
- On 31 July 2024, Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to three years and four months for the earlier offending and two and a half years for the later charges, served concurrently, with the final two years suspended for 30 months on conditions under Probation Service supervision.
- Other details
- Donovan had 41 previous convictions.
- The prosecution estimated Sky's losses at more than €4 million, and the service was estimated to have cost pay TV operators €4.38 million in lost revenue.
92 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was accused of facilitating the sale of 'dodgy boxes' on a number of dates going back to 2016. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe estimated value of what he may have defrauded a legitimate carrier of services could be as high as €1.2 million. (kildarenow.com)
- 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)
- whatAn illegal dodgy box operation is still in operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonovan ran an app in Ireland that gave access to an international illegal service organised by others, most likely in the UK, which he paid. (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- whatThe charges relate to allegations that Donovan supplied illegal access to copyrighted Sky TV services. (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- whatDonovan was convicted of laundering more than €900,000 from an illegal streaming subscription service. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThousands of users of the service had access to copyrighted Sky Sports, BT Sports and other subscription services. (irishtimes.com)
- what€470,511 passed through bank accounts linked to Donovan's operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonovan was the operator of an illegal TV streaming service that sold access codes to pay TV channels. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCiaran Donovan's address is given as Ashfield in Kildare Town. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe hearing took place in a court in Naas, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDonovan is from Ashfield, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDonovan appeared before Naas District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe illegal app selling took place between January 2016 and March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe laundering covered the period from January 2016 to March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe laundering offences relate to selling an app linked to King Kong Media between January 2016 and March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first set of offending covered January 2016 to March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said financial motivation was the key factor in Donovan's offending. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution said the service had been removed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe court presenter said he was still awaiting a book of evidence on the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationWhile on bail, Donovan shut down the service at Kildare Garda station in the presence of gardaí and Sky representatives. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case followed an investigation initiated by Sky TV's anti-piracy unit. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe offences are in contravention of Section 7(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. (kildarenow.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)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty last July to money laundering from selling an app linked to the King Kong Media illegal streaming service. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan is facing further charges in relation to the same operation. (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)
- chargeDonovan was charged with laundering more than €430,000 between October 2021 and November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty to three charges of money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan had pleaded guilty to three charges of money laundering linked to selling subscriptions to King Kong Media. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan was sent forward for sentencing on signed guilty pleas to two further money laundering charges covering October 2021 to November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing the proceeds of crime under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDonovan pleaded guilty to possessing €470,511 that passed through bank accounts linked to King Kong Media between January 2016 and March 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDonovan later pleaded guilty to two similar charges relating to €239,989 and €191,009. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe court appearance took place at Naas District Court on Thursday, 1 June 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- courtJudge Desmond Zaidan sent the accused forward for trial to the present sittings of Naas Circuit Criminal Court, which commenced on 20 June. (kildarenow.com)
- courtBail was granted for Mr Donovan until the case resumes. (kildarenow.com)
- courtA book of evidence was served on Mr Donovan by gardaí before the decision. (kildarenow.com)
- courtDonovan is awaiting sentence in the Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan's barrister said he wanted sentencing to go ahead, but the judge did not agree. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge put back sentencing until the new charges have been dealt with. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge will consider material assistance when deciding on sentence. (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)
- courtDonovan faces a similar prosecution in the Circuit Court, listed for sentencing on July 12. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge expected to send Donovan forward for sentence in the Circuit Court on signed guilty pleas. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonovan appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court on a Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentence was handed down at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martina Baxter remanded Donovan in custody to appear again in two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDonovan was remanded on continuing bail to July 12th, when he is expected to be sentenced. (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)
- sentenceThe article's lede says he was sentenced to one year and four months in prison. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFor the earlier offending the judge imposed three years and four months. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFor the later charges the judge imposed two and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge ordered the sentences served concurrently and suspended the final two years of the jail term. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge gave Donovan credit for time already spent in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDonovan was sentenced to three years and four months on the charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final two years of the sentence were suspended for 30 months on conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDonovan must be under Probation Service supervision during the suspension period. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said the sentence would take into account more than two months already spent in custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA number of legal warnings have been sent to those involved in providing illegal access to premium TV content. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe illegal service was still operating as of the weekend before the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonovan had 41 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution asked for the sentencing of a man involved in selling the illegal service to be deferred. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonovan is in custody awaiting sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBank accounts linked to Donovan's operation saw a total of €470,511 pass through them. (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)
- 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)
- otherThe judge said that continued operation of the service after an investigation began was an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the website was sophisticated, extensive and catered for consumers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the offending was in the low to mid-range of seriousness. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe illegal service was estimated to have cost pay TV operators €4.38 million in lost revenue. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe number of customers rose from 2,500 to 5,000 during the offending. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDonovan's bail was revoked after the business was found to be still operating. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDonovan has 41 previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Jul2024'Dodgy box' operator jailed for 16 months after caught with more than €900,000
Sentencing report for Ciaran Donovan at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. No existing case matches this sentencing.
convicted, Ciaran Donovan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan - 31 Jul2024‘Dodgy box’ TV service operator jailed for 16 months
Sentencing of Ciaran Donovan at Naas Circuit Court. No matching existing case. The lede gives a sentence of one year and four months, while the body gives three years and four months with the final two years suspended.
convicted, Ciaran Donovan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan - 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 - 5 Jun2024Man charged with laundering €430,000 in ‘dodgy box’ service operation
Court appearance on charges of laundering over €430,000 allegedly from an illegal TV streaming service. Donovan intends to plead guilty, and the matter is to be sent forward for sentence in the Circuit Court on signed pleas. A similar Circuit Court case is listed for sentencing on July 12.
accused, Ciaran Donovan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan - 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 - 10 May2024‘Dodgy box’ service is still operating, court told as sentencing of man is deferred
Reports a Circuit Criminal Court hearing in Naas where sentencing was deferred until further charges are dealt with, and that the illegal service is still operating. Gives the amounts passing through bank accounts and the estimated loss to Sky.
convicted, Ciaran Donovan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan - 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 - 14 Jul2023KILDARE: ‘Dodgy box’ accused sent forward for trial
Reports the 1 June 2023 court appearance where Judge Desmond Zaidan sent Donovan forward for trial to Naas Circuit Criminal Court (commenced 20 June 2023) and granted bail, after a book of evidence was served by gardaí.
accused, Ciaran Donovan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Donovan