‘Sky could force us to close our doors’ Dundee pub could shut after showing football matches illegally

The owners of a Dundee pub are being pursued for nearly £10,000 by Sky after they showed football matches illegally.

Lynn and Brian Mackie, of Ross’s Bar on Arbroath Road, claim the firm could put them out of business over “a couple of football games”.

Last month, Lynn’s husband Brian was fined £1,500 in court after admitting a charge of illegally screening three Sky Sports football matches at the pub with the intent to avoid payment.

Now, Sky chiefs are pursuing the bar through a civil court action.

Lynn said: “We made a mistake and we held our hands up but the latest moves by Sky could force us to close our doors.”

Alison Dolan, deputy managing director at Sky, said: “Our goal is to ensure a level playing field for our Sky customers’ businesses if a landlord chooses to show Sky, they must have a legitimate commercialsubscription from Sky.

“If they choose to show Sky illegally by not taking a legitimate agreement, they risk a criminal conviction, as well as civil action to recover lost subscription revenue and damages.

“We take this action to protect our legitimate Sky customers and ensure they are not left short-changed by illegal activity.”