Moira man caught selling counterfeit football kits on Facebook 'made approximately £1,600', court is told

Irwin Cunningham, 39, whose address was given as Nuthill Road, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with trading in counterfeit products, selling goods with a registered trademark, and possession of items which breach a registered trademark.

The court heard that police received a report from the manager of a company which protects Premier League trademarks from counterfeit activity.

It was stated that she saw a number of football kits for sale on Facebook. She made a payment and examined the shirt when it arrived, finding it to be counterfeit.

Police then carried out a search of the defendant’s address and found a number of suspected counterfeit tops.

It was stated that 95 payments had been made to an account linked to the defendant.

During interview, the defendant made full admission to trading counterfeit goods.

A defence lawyer told the court the defendant had made approximately £1,600 over the 95 transactions.

He continued: “The whole matter arose through his fondness of sport.

"An acquaintance told him where to get shirts from China and he did it for his family. Over a nine-month period he did 95 transactions.

"He had it done on an open Facebook page. There wasn’t any great sophistication to it.

"It has placed an enormous strain on his marriage and left him knowing he is never going to do any of these transactions ever again in his life.”

District Judge Rosie Watters imposed a fine of £1,500, as well as a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.