Sky prosecutes dodgy box users in Wexford in landmark Irish court case
For the first time in Ireland, individual household users of dodgy boxes face court prosecution by Sky. Two Wexford residents refused €1,200 fines and are now being sued for copyright infringement.
Sky takes two dodgy box users to court in Wexford landmark case
For the first time in Ireland, individual users of dodgy boxes are facing court prosecution, corkbeo.ie reports. Media giant Sky has launched legal proceedings against two household users in Wexford this month, marking a significant escalation in the enforcement of copyright law.
Previously, prosecutions in Ireland focused on sellers of dodgy boxes and tampered Fire Sticks, who faced fines and jail time. The Wexford cases represent the first instance of ordinary household users being brought before the courts.
According to the Irish Independent, Sky issued warnings to 200 homes across the Wexford region. Several of those users, who initially refused to discontinue the illegal streaming services, subsequently agreed to pay fines of €1,200 to avoid court appearances. Two individuals refused both demands and are now being sued for copyright infringement. Other households that received warnings agreed to stop using dodgy boxes and faced no fines.
The proceedings follow an earlier development this year in which Revolut Bank UAB was ordered by Mr Justice Brian Cregan in March to hand over the financial details of 304 dodgy box subscribers to Sky. A further 10 individuals identified as resellers — who accepted payment through Revolut for access to the illicit streaming service — were also included in that order. The move was part of a broader crackdown on illegal streaming across Ireland.
It is estimated that approximately one in five Irish households currently uses a dodgy box, either as a physical device or via a tampered Fire Stick.
The first indication that individual users could face personal liability came last October, when householders were formally warned that enforcement action was possible for the first time. Prior to that, action had been directed almost exclusively at resellers and retailers.
In 2025, the Federation Against Copyright Theft partnered with Sky TV to serve legal notices on shops and resellers across nine counties — Cavan, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Mayo, Meath, and Wexford — marking the first time enforcement was targeted directly at retail outlets.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft stated that its organisation "recognises that shops are a crucial gateway for consumers being drawn into illegal streaming and that disrupting activity at street level is key to protecting the public."
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)