Sky seeks €38k over pub’s ‘unlawful broadcasting’

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

Elizabeth J Walsh, for Sky, told the Circuit Civil Court that Molloy’s Pub on Talbot St continued to ignore orders restraining it from showing Sky programmes without a licence.

Ms Walshtold 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, trading as Molloy’s, had continuously ignored demands and all communications relating to the proceedings and shown no regard for the court’s orders.

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

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

Judge Linnane adjourned the proceedings to allow Sky UK Ltd notify the publican of its intention to proceed with its claims.