Rooney's uncle fined for illegal Sky viewing

The uncle of England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been fined for screening football using a domestic Sky card.

John Morrey, licensee at the Old Stanley Arms in Prescot Road, Liverpool was found guilty of screening two matches without a commercial Sky contract.

Morrey's daughter Laura Morrey, the licence holder, was fined £1,500 while Morrey, himself, was hit with a £4,000 fine.

Morrey screened the FA Community Shield match between Liverpool and Chelsea on August 13, 2006, and the Premiership game between Sheffield United and Liverpool on August 19.

Morrey also had a previous conviction for the same offence last year when he was fined £3,000.

He had successfully delayed publication of the details of the case by arguing witnesses could be prejudiced if they knew he was Rooney's uncle.

"It is quite clear that this offence was taking place and the court fined him accordingly,"​ said a Federation Against Copyright (Fact) spokesman. "Fact will continue to work on behalf of Sky to identify and prosecute those seeking to defraud Sky and protect those who pay legitimate subscription charges."​

Interestingly, the pair were acquitted on a third charge as they argued they had shown the Man Utd match against Chelsea on 9 May 2007 via an Arab satellite channel.

Ray Hoskin, boss of Media Protection Services, which investigates foreign satellite screenings, said he was unaware of this case until this morning and that an admission of using a foreign satellite system was not enough on its own to warrant a prosecution.

Morrey said he had just left the pub and was planning to appeal.