KILDARE: ‘Dodgy box’ accused sent forward for trial

A man was accused of facilitating 'dodgy boxes' to illegally stream premium TV content in County Kildare.

Ciaran Donovan, with an address given as Ashfield in Kildare town, was accused of facilitating the sale of 'dodgy boxes' on a number of dates, going as far back as 2016.

According to gardaí present in Naas District Court on Thursday, June 1 last, the estimated value of what the 41-year-old may have defrauded a legit carrier of services could be as high as €1.2 million.

It was heard that the offences that Mr Donovan is accused of are in contravention of Section 7 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010.

This section of the Act reads as follows: "(1) A person commits an offence if— (a) the person engages in any of the following acts in relation to property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct: (i) concealing or disguising the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of the property, or any rights relating to the property."

Back in March, a number of mainstream news outlets reported that a nationwide crackdown would occur on 'dodgy boxes.'

It is understood that a number of legal warnings have since been sent to those involved in providing illegal access to premium TV content.

On the latest court date, after a book of evidence was served on Mr Donovan by gardaí, Judge Desmond Zaidan sent the accused forward for trial to the present sittings of Naas Circuit Criminal Court, which commenced on June 20.

He granted bail for Mr Donovan until the case resumes.