Sky TV seeks €38,000 in damages from Dublin pub

Molloy’s continues to broadcast Sky Sports coverage without a licence, court hears

Sky TV is seeking up to €38,000 in damages against a Dublin  pub, claiming it has ignored court orders restraining its unlawful broadcasting of Sky Sports coverage of rugby, soccer and GAA matches. File photograph: Ralph Orlowski/Reuters
Sky TV is seeking up to €38,000 in damages against a Dublin pub, claiming it has ignored court orders restraining its unlawful broadcasting of Sky Sports coverage of rugby, soccer and GAA matches. File photograph: Ralph Orlowski/Reuters

Sky TV is seeking up to €38,000 in “aggravated and exemplary damages” against a Dublin pub it claims has ignored court orders restraining its unlawful broadcasting of Sky Sports coverage of rugby, soccer and GAA matches.

Barrister Elizabeth J Walsh, counsel for Sky, told the Circuit Civil Court on Monday that Molloy's Pub on Talbot Street, Dublin, continued to ignore orders restraining it from showing Sky programmes without a licence.

Ms Walsh told Judge Jacqueline Linnane that in 2014 Sky had obtained judgment against Molloy's and injunctions restraining any further breach of copyright.

She said Treetop Taverns Ltd, which trades as Molloy's pub, had continuously ignored demands and all communications relating to the proceedings and had shown no regard whatsoever for the court's orders.

READ MORE

Scottish-based Sky operations executive Karen Anderson said the publican did not hold any agreement with Sky that would allow it to broadcast Sky Sports events.

‘Secret visits’

Brendan Supple, a private investigator, told the court he had secretly visited Molloy's on several occasions and had seen English Premier League matches, a Munster rugby game and a Dublin-Laois GAA match being broadcast on large screens in the pub.

Ms Walsh said there had been no appearance in court on behalf of Molloy’s, which had ignored all efforts by Sky to have the pub take out a commercial licence with it or stop breaching its copyright.

Sky has warned Treetop Taverns Ltd that it is a criminal offence to infringe copyright which carries, under Section 140 of the Copyright and Related Rights Act, a maximum fine of €127,000 and or imprisonment of up to five years.

The judge said she had noted the evidence put before the court, but adjourned the proceedings to allow Sky UK Ltd notify the publican of its intention to proceed with its claims.