Cavan 'dodgy box' sellers targeted in clampdown

Cavan among counties to receive legal notices over illegal streaming services

CAVAN has been targeted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in a crackdown over so-called “dodgy boxes”.

According to FACT, legal notices were delivered top shops and re-sellers in nine counties including Cavan.

As part of the clampdown notices were also served in Meath, Louth, Donegal, Mayo, Laois, Kilkenny, Wexford and Kerry.

Eleven of the visits were conducted by FACT investigators, while legal representatives from SKY TV carried out four more.

According to FACT, the targeted outlets were found to be either selling subscriptions to illegal streaming services, supplying devices configured to access them, or referring customers to resellers via phone numbers or advertising materials.

The operation targeting retailers follows a series of successful crackdowns on illegal streaming services in Ireland.

FACT said that since March 2023 almost 70 illegal services across Ireland have closed on foot of action by it and its partners.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme earlier, Chairperson of FACT, Kieron Sharp, said shops could face criminal or civil action going forward "if they continue their criminality", adding the activity is "is not a victimless crime."

"We don't have any legal powers. This is just the serving of a notice to warn people,” he said, “We know what they're doing.”