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. 21323Breach of porting regulations (electronic communications) · Co. Dublin

Sky Ireland avoids conviction over phone porting delays

Sky Ireland Ltd, a company, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to failing to comply with phone number porting rules after four customers experienced delays or double billing when switching to its landline service. The first customer waited from 18 February to 15 March 2021 for their phone to be transferred, and the court heard that confusion over customer reference numbers caused the problems. The case followed an investigation by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The judge said he would apply the Probation of Offenders Act if the company donated €5,000 to charity, and he ordered the donation to the Little Flower Penny Dinner Charity, as reported on 28 April 2023.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Sky Ireland Ltd pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to failing to comply with phone number porting laws.
  • Four phone customers experienced delays or double billing after switching to the company's landline service.
Where
The plea was entered at Dublin District Court.
When
The first customer waited from 18 February to 15 March 2021 for their phone to be transferred.
Cause
The court heard that confusion over customer reference numbers caused the problems.
Investigation
The case followed an investigation by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
Charges
The company admitted failing to comply with regulation 25(1) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users' Rights) Regulations 2011.
Other details
  • Prosecution counsel said porting should be active within a day and loss of service should not exceed one working day.
  • The company had no prior convictions, co-operated with ComReg, and paid ComReg's costs.
  • The company reimbursed the customers who were double billed and developed software to tackle the problem.
In court
  • At District Court level, each charge can result in a recorded conviction and fines of up to €5,000 per charge.
  • Judge Anthony Halpin said there was a significant mitigation factor.
Sentence
  • The judge said he would apply the Probation of Offenders Act if the company donated €5,000 to charity.
  • The judge ordered the donation to the Little Flower Penny Dinner Charity, and the company was spared a conviction.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSky Ireland Ltd pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to failing to comply with phone number porting laws. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour phone customers experienced delays or double billing after switching to the company's landline service. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe first customer waited from February 18th to March 15th, 2021, for their phone to be transferred. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe court heard that confusion over customer reference numbers caused the problems. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe company admitted failing to comply with regulation 25(1) of the 2011 European Communities regulations. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAt District Court level, each charge can result in a recorded conviction and fines of up to €5,000 per charge. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge said he would apply the Probation of Offenders Act if the company donated €5,000 to charity. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the donation to the Little Flower Penny Dinner Charity. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe company had no prior convictions, co-operated with ComReg, and paid ComReg's costs. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe company reimbursed the customers who were double billed and developed software to tackle the problem. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Apr2023
    Otheririshtimes.com, first report
    Sky Ireland escapes court conviction after customers complain of delays and double billing

    Reports the guilty plea, the ComReg investigation, the mitigation factors, and the charitable donation ordered in lieu of a conviction.

    accused, Sky Ireland Ltd, namedSky Ireland Ltd