The Not So Long Arm of The Law

The mere nature of pirate radio broadcasting was that you were breaking the law. The authorities did 

not want you on air and to effect your departure raids took place. Often a raid would suffice to have 

the station at least lay low for awhile but in order to send out warnings to others, court cases 

followed and station operators were fined a paltry amount which rarely served as a deterrent.  

Occasionally the pirate stations found themselves further up the court chain other than the District or 

Circuit Courts. From time to time the names of the illegal pirate radio stations found themselves 

been spoken of in the hallowed corridors of both the High Court and even the Supreme Court. Here 

are some of the High Court appearances of pirate stations from 1978 - 1988.