Courts / Dublin / Report

Legally blind man ran illegal cable TV service

Summary

Lee Bergin, 41, a legally blind man, was found guilty of operating an illegal cable‑TV service. He transmitted decryption codes from legitimate viewing cards over the internet, enabling customers to watch cable broadcasts without paying. Gardaí discovered computers, card readers, and set‑top boxes at his former Stoneybatter address, and the court heard how the cards were used to descramble signals. Bergin pleaded guilty to dishonestly operating a computer in 2015 and had no prior convictions. He expressed remorse and claimed his wife was uninvolved. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offence as sophisticated, noted his genuine regret, and, believing he was on a path to rehabilitation, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence fully suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was suspended in its entirety, with no custodial term imposed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Legally blind man ran illegal cable TV service. Charges or matters: dishonestly operating a computer within the State on August 5, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 5, 2015 Other
• 2021-07-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report