‘Dodgy box’ dealer set to learn his fate next month
NOLAN TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS WENT SOME MUSICIANS WERE MAD AT
A DODGY box dealer behind a scam that cost TV firms more than €1 million in revenue will learn his fate next month.
Ciaran Donovan, who admitted running King Kong Media that claimed to have 3,500 paying customers, was due to be sentenced yesterday at Naas Circuit Criminal court in Kildare.
Donovan (41) of Ashfield in Kildare town had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing property representing the proceeds of criminal conduct.
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But the sentencing was put back and will now happen on May 10.
The court heard customers were told where to download the King Kong app through social media and then pay for codes to access TV streaming services on their smart TV or computer.
Punters were paying between €40 and €60 a year in late 2021 to access Sky and BT Sports.
The court heard hundreds of thousands of euro changed hands in the scam.
King Kong media claimed on a social media post to have 3,500 customers, but the court heard tracking if people had taken out monthly or annual subscriptions was impossible.
YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET: Simon Harris and Bachman-Turner Overdrive
NEW Taoiseach Simon Harris may be Ireland’s youngest ever leader, but his theme tune is a 1970s rock classic.
The 37-year-old arrived for his first Fine Gael Ard Fheis as Taoiseach to the sound of You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet by BachmanTurner Overdrive.
The song was used to welcome Harris at the conference, after he had quoted its title in an interview about taking over the big job from Leo Varadkar.
Harris joins the politicians who have used songs to usher in a new era, or to boost their campaigns.
Many caused controversy – with bands taking particular umbrage when Donald Trump used their music.
The late Tom Petty once sent George W Bush a “cease and desist” letter for using his hit song I Won’t Back Down.
However, Harris seems to have got away without censure from BachmanTurner Overdrive.
A spokesperson for the Canadian four-piece outfit told The Star: “Songwriter Randy Bachman was not consulted on this use, and has no comment.”
Here, we look back at some of the most famous songs used as political themes over the years...
BILL Clinton chose the classic track from the legendary Fleetwood Mac as his campaign song for his successful 1993 election.
The 1977 tune – from the band’s massive hit album Rumours - was a personal favourite.
And Clinton then convinced Fleetwood Mac to reform after six years to perform it at his inaugural ball.
The band had personal and professional issues, with members Christine and John McVie and Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks breaking up. Mick Fleetwood recalled: “I saw John and Chris holding hands, Lindsay was holding Stevie’s hand. The crows were going AWOL. “That was quite a moment.”
NEVER MIND THE BALLOTS: Donald Trump has provoked angry reaction from artists
ONE of the most successful political theme tunes ever borrowed was written by Derryman Peter Cunnah, for his band D:Ream.
The uplifting beat, positive message and catchy tune of 1993 club hit Things Can Only Get Better made it perfect for a campaign.
It was credited with helping UK’s Labour - with then new leader Tony Blair - win the 1997 election.
However, Cunnah - who now lives in Donegal has since said he regrets allowing the hit song to be made political.
He said: “Most of us were behind Tony Blair in 1997, but then a few years later he took us to war in Iraq, so I wouldn’t have any of my music associated with a political party again.
“No one is ever going to cover the song because of its association with Labour, so in a way I shot myself in the foot by allowing them to use it.”