Sex offender 'Captain' Cooke to see victim's book before publication

An application brought by sex offender Eamonn Cooke to be furnished with a yet-to-be-published book written by a girl whom he was convicted of sexually assaulting as part of his appeal against his conviction and 10-year jail sentence he received has been struck out at the Court of Criminal Appeal.

In 2007 at the Central Criminal Court Eamonn "Captain" Cooke (aged 70), the founder of an illegal Radio Dublin pirate station, with addresses at Heatherview Avenue, Tallaght, and Wheatfields Court, Clondalkin, was found guilty of 42 charges of sexual assault against young girls 30 years ago.

Today the Court of Criminal Appeal was told that a motion brought on behalf of Cooke, where he was seeking the production of a book entitled 'Playing in the Dark' written by a complainant in the prosecution of the 70-year-old, could now be struck out on consent.

The three judge CCA of Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman presiding, sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard that Cooke and his legal team are to be furnished with copies of the book.

Last July his appeal was adjourned by the CCA of Ms Justice Fidelma Macken presiding, sitting with Mr Justice Michael Hanna, and Mr Justice John MacMenamin.

That hearing was due to recommence in early December. However, the case was adjourned so that a new hearing date for the appeal can be found. It is most likely that will take place in the new year.

In 2007 Ms Justice Maureen Clark sentenced Cooke to 10 years comprising one year from each of the 42 counts, with five years to run consecutively for each of the two victim and the remaining 32 terms to run concurrently. Cooke denied the charges against him.