Clampdown on TV 'Dodgy Boxes'

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 10:53AM

Gerry Hutch will be the Dodgy Box candidate in May in Dublin Central. I can't associate anyone in Galway West with organised crime. Hutch would be on to a winner if he pushes the Sky are monsters line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Dublin_Central_by-election

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Galway_West_by-election

moycullen14 · 31-03-2026 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124342590#Comment_124342590

Even if sky was gone, I'd still pay for the IPTV. It is so convenient to have all the channels you watch (UK & IRE FTA mainly). Anyone who is front-line support for technically challenged relatives understands how useful this is!

dulpit · 31-03-2026 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352876#Comment_124352876

I would argue that a combo FTA box (saorview + freesat) or a device that does both natively (LG have built in Freesat + terrestrial) is an easier setup to support than a dodgy service - especially when the service goes down because of a random block or whatever.

Bass Reeves · 31-03-2026 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352605#Comment_124352605

While Sky has got access to Revolute details this has not been through a court yet. The access to names in bank accounts will be challenged in the courts, there is a chance it may be overturned by data privacy laws.

One of the more fundamental questions this raises is with the demise of cash transactions it could give access in certain situations to to details on your bank accounts. There has been a pushvwitj online and card banking for virtual cash accounts unavailable to individuals.

It may well push people to using crypto currency for privacy reasons

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 02:06PM

Dunbar did not get any relief from the court under data privacy, and not just to do with Revolut. The precedent has been set for future cases.

[I]n the affidavit of Damien Gilmore, sworn on 08 July, under the heading “Financial Information”, Mr. Gilmore provides a very thorough analysis of the many shortcomings of the financial information which the Defendant has provided for the purpose of purging his contempt.

He identifies, inter alia, €21,124 in transfers to accounts in the Defendant’s name from his Revolut account that he has failed to account for; €40,521 in payments into the Defendant’s PTSB joint current account from at least one other account in the Defendant’s name that he has failed to account for; €48,470 in cash lodgements to the PTSB joint current account that the Defendant has failed to account for; €26,230 in payments from “CT Worldpay AP” into the PTSB joint current account that the defendant has failed to account for; €66,698.65 transferred from, and €38,185.27 transferred to, an account called “INET 24 Fr 6569 ”that the Defendant has failed to account for; and a Reddit post from the Defendant’s account on 1 February 2025 where the Defendant says he has “about 50ish k put away for college” for his children that the Defendant has failed to account for.

burningrubbish · 31-03-2026 04:08PM

Would they not have to prosecute everyone of the 300 subscribers, they cant just pick a few, thats got to be dodgy legally, the law either applies to everyone or no one.

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 04:46PM

A prosecution is an action brought by the state, often after an arrest made by the Gardai. These will be civil proceedings no Gardai involved. It is up to the company bringing the civil case who they want to pursue for damages.

It is clever how they said they will not go after all 304. None of Dunbar's clients can be sure they won't be one of the chosen ones. There will be a lot of wiping of records and closing of bank accounts going on. Dunbar managed to destroy much of the material, but if he had thousands of clients, all of them should also be scrambling to clean up their act.

burningrubbish · 31-03-2026 05:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353738#Comment_124353738

Dont banks have to keep records for 3 years after you close an account, so no point closing account now, the horse has already bolted so to speak.

If it goes to court just deny it, "not me, dont know what you are talking about"

Your name is on a list " what list, what are you on about, who else is on the list, show us this list"

You paid €100 to this account "and so what, i buy loads of stuff online with revolut, i dont keep records of everything i buy online,"

Its our view you purchased a dodgy box sub " well you would be wrong, i dont have a dodgy box"

The onus is on them to prove you purchased a dodgy box subscription, so deny it, make them show proof of this dodgy box and subscription in your possession…. best of luck finding something that does not exist.

As you said it a civil matter, Sky cant kick down your door and raid your house looking for the dodgy box with this subscription, so dont sweat it.

Deny, Deny, Deny if they are only going after a few they will soon drop interest in you and move onto who ever admits to it, they get a easy win and plenty of coverage in the media and the dodgy box train keeps chugging along minus a few who have been scared off.

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 06:23PM

These lads are certainly good at Deny, Deny, Deny. And having a laugh at Sky. It should be an interesting case when it comes up.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/three-dodgy-box-sellers-face-36128723

Bass Reeves · 31-03-2026 07:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353997#Comment_124353997

I would not be betting on getting any fine paid or any money from someone with an address called Defenders Row and I know nothing about Dundalk.

FishOnABike · 31-03-2026 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353997#Comment_124353997

Sure, I only got it to watch the Mongolian horse racing and archery competition.

robwen · 31-03-2026 10:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353204#Comment_124353204

What if they paid by crypto on revolut, could they trace that back

TheW1zard · 31-03-2026 11:04PM

The court ordered revolut to give sky the names and addresses, so sky have to chase people threatening them with court action. Is that correct?

dubrov · 31-03-2026 11:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354590#Comment_124354590

Crypto on revolut isn't really crypto. It's just another bank account that tracks the value of a cryptocurrency

alias no.9 · 31-03-2026 11:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354683#Comment_124354683

Sky have to prove that their proprietary content was accessed via the subscription and that they suffered a loss because of that. Most people just want RTE without the stupid adds on the rte player.

kippy · 31-03-2026 11:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353738#Comment_124353738

I dont think they have much to be worried about to be honest.

jj880 · 31-03-2026 11:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354710#Comment_124354710

I thought they meant signing up for a crypto wallet then loading it from revolut.

dxhound2005 · 01-04-2026 11:41AM

Irish Times editorial from 29 March, free to read as I post this. The gist of it is that the politicians are too afraid to tackle the crime wave. So it is left to Sky and the other copyright holders to go after the individuals. Despite the reputational damage (imagine being condemned for tackling crime!) they have to. Otherwise the 400,000 households illegally streaming will turn into 800,000, and their business model will suffer even more. It's the only way to go, and they will get details of many thousands of accounts paying criminals for copyright. It would make things interesting if they went after Gardai and priests.

Did anyone here feel the chill run down their spines?

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorials/2026/03/29/the-irish-times-view-on-dodgy-boxes-a-lack-of-will-to-enforce-the-law/

ArrBee · 01-04-2026 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

You seem to switch between criminal matter and civil matter as it suits your messaging.
I find it very hard to take you seriously or even in good faith with such flipflopping.

Rocket_GD · 01-04-2026 12:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

Maybe get a new hobby.

Sigma101 · 01-04-2026 12:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

I'm not a dodgy box user and have never been and, maybe unlike yourself, I've read the article from a neutral's perspective. The jist of the article is not that politicians are afraid. If you read past the sub-head, the main takeaway is that Sky can do shag-all about the issue: "Sky has limited options should it choose to make an example of individual customers".

It goes on to suggest that Sky will likely just issue warning letters to the identified end users. That's hardly enough to send a chill down one's spine, is it?

jj880 · 01-04-2026 12:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355498#Comment_124355498

Still wondering if any of the fines issued in Italy have been paid / made it to court.

Plenty of legislation gets commenced and that's it. Never enforced.

bladespin · 01-04-2026 12:56PM

Can see it ending up like the radar detectors years ago (anyone remember them?) The Gardai hated them, it was illegal to sell them here and it was illegal to use them in your vehicle but owning one was not.

jj880 · 01-04-2026 09:42PM

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2026/03/31/ill-live-with-this-shame-forever-man-caught-with-genuine-tv-subscriptions/

“I don’t get the little in-jokes or phrases my mates use now, they spend 10 minutes explaining to each other what to do when your dodgy box lad gets caught, I feel left out. Just last week I caught my wife going over to her sisters just to watch a dodgy box. She said it gave her life meaning, doing something so wrong, she said she hates our normal boring life and needed to feel something, anything,” cried Colgan.

🤣

jmcc · 01-04-2026 10:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

The "Irish Times view" is like that of the Skibereen Eagle threatening to keep an eye on the Tsar back in the day. :) It is just bandwagon jumping and the political aspect (fines for end users) would be very dangerous for politicians and especially so for those who rely on transfers to get elected. There's very little in that op-ed that hasn't appeared in this thread. A more erudite opinionator would have pointed out how little that the bread and circuses thing (panem et circenses) has changed since Roman times. The last thing that politicians want is an angry electorate and if the number of dodgy box households is anywhere near that claimed 400K, that's a lot of votes.

Bass Reeves · 01-04-2026 10:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

Like @Sigma101 I am not a dodgy box owner. Its anazing that the IT put this up as a FTR article, they are not noted for it. The part about 300k dogy box uses quaking in there shoes is FUD. SKY are virtually powerless to police it. I jave even heard that there cohort that check pub etc issue a year fine to rural pubs. There is an adhoc agreement not to pursue as many pubs have already removed the subscription service as its too expensive. But are willing to pay a lower yearly fine.

In a way they brought this on themselves. They out bit loafs of other startiin for TV right to sports events. They created the monster, now the monster is eating them

Benedict XVI · 02-04-2026 01:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124357247#Comment_124357247

In a way they brought this on themselves. They out bit loafs of other startiin for TV right to sports events. They created the monster, now the monster is eating them

But if it wasn't Sky that did the outbidding it would be someone else, and even worse it could be more fragmented than it currently is.

The EPL created the monster, not Sky.

Dr Robert · 02-04-2026 05:04AM

Zero sympathy for Sky with their gouging prices.

Necro · 02-04-2026 07:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355407#Comment_124355407

I genuinely do not understand your obsession with this issue! Do you actually care this much or are you just on a constant wind up? Either way it's pretty bloody boring at this point.

Bass Reeves · 02-04-2026 08:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124357506#Comment_124357506

It was Sky that first took a lot of these sport events from free to air TV companies

Clampdown on TV 'Dodgy Boxes'

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