Man jailed for selling illegal sports streaming services

A Co Derry man who made almost £500,000 profit from selling illegal TV sports streaming services has been sentenced to four years.

Cormac McGuckin, 38, from The Meadows in Bellaghy, will spend two years in prison and the other two years on licence, which means he will be sent back to prison if he reoffends during that time.

His wife, Maura McGuckin, 34, was given a 12 month suspended sentence for possession of criminal property.

The couple appeared at Omagh Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of offences last month.

Cormac McGuckin admitted ten charges of fraud linked to an illegal streaming service which gave around 2,000 people access to Sky Sports and BT Sports from 2016 to 2020.

The court was told the couple had enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, owning top of the range cars and going on expensive holidays.

Judge Philip Babington read from pre-sentence reports in which Cormac McGuckin said he "did not believe he was doing anything wrong" and regarded it as "a victimless crime".

Sentencing him to four years, the judge described his actions as serious and sophisticated offending, saying it was not possible to establish precisely how much money copyright holders Sky Sports and BT Sports had lost because of his actions.

"Your motives were purely financial and you made a great deal of money," he said.

The judge said Cormac McGuckin had 23 previous convictions for dishonesty, including theft and fraud.

Cormac McGuckin wiped a tear from his eye as he was led from the dock after being sentenced.

The judge then sentenced Maura McGuckin.

He read from a pre-sentence report in which she claimed not to have been aware that what her husband was doing was illegal, and said she was "prepared to turn a blind eye as long as no one came knocking".

She was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years.

"I am satisfied that you sat back and benefitted from your husband's dishonesty," the judge told her.

"You are before this court because of his actions."

A hearing to rule on possible compensation payments to Sky Sports and BT Sports will be held at a later date.