Evil Families SA predator Shannon McCoole wants his jail term cut — because he gave evidence in prosecution of other paedophiles
FAMILIES SA paedophile and international child porn network ringleader Shannon McCoole wants his 35-year sentence for the vile sexual abuse of seven children reduced — because he did prosecutors a favour.
- Shannon McCoole’s repulsive crimes — what the judge told him
- Inside story: How Danish police helped catch McCoole
- McCoole weeps during apology — before his hypocrisy is exposed
- His crimes sparked a royal commission, this is what it found
FAMILIES SA predator Shannon McCoole wants his 35-year sentence for the vile sexual abuse of seven children in his care to be reduced because he testified against other paedophiles in Europe.
On Wednesday, McCoole appeared in the District Court via videolink where his lawyer, Mark Griffin, QC, told Judge Paul Rice he would be making an application for his sentence to be slashed.
The former Families SA social worker was sentenced to 35 years in jail with a non-parole period of 28 years in 2015 after he admitted to a horrifying list of sex offences committed against young children in his care.
They were as young as 18 months old. One had autism. Another was disabled.
McCoole was also in charge of an international child pornography network, which had thousands of members.
Australian police were tipped off to McCoole’s position as “CEO” of the sick organisation by Dutch police in May 2014, and he was soon after arrested for offences against seven children, six of whom were in his care.
Last year, McCoole gave evidence to a Danish court against a man accused of helping to run the online forum.
McCoole testified from prison in Adelaide by videolink in the case against a 48-year-old Dane — known only as TL — who is accused of abusing four children and of helping McCoole.
Mr Griffin told Judge Rice the sentence reduction application would be made under a section of the Criminal Law Sentencing Act.
He said McCoole co-operated with police following his arrest, which had been taken into consideration by Judge Rice during sentencing.
But he said McCoole had since assisted Danish law enforcement authorities so would be making the application on that basis.
The court heard there was “some merit” to the application.
Judge Rice will hear the application next month.
In February last year, The Advertiser reported on transcripts tendered to a Danish court detailing McCoole’s conversation with a Swedish administrator of an international child pornography site about buying a Romanian baby for use as a “sex toy”.
At the time of the conversation in June 2010, McCoole was working part time at a southern suburbs out of school hours care centre while studying a teaching degree at the University of South Australia.
Oscar Gulhagg admitted to filming and sexually abusing the four children of one of his friends but has denied the Romanian gypsy plan by claiming it was never seriously considered.
In a landmark trial, prosecutors were trying to hold him responsible for child rapes committed by other men because he and other administrators, including McCoole, encouraged it by requiring members to post new abuse pictures every 30 days or face a ban.
Prosecutors have told the northern European court the Dane should be held jointly responsible for 22 child rapes that were published on the site.
Dutchman Auke Vansickle told the Danish court, in Randers, that he went with Gulhagg and another man — known online as “Haba” — to Romania in 2010 but left when he became aware they were serious about their plan to buy the baby.
McCoole’s crimes have triggered a Royal Commission into the child protection system “shortfalls” that let McCoole to abuse those in his care.
The commission case study into McCoole heard many “red flags” were raised — including a girl nicknaming him “Mr Paedophile” — before his arrest in June 2014.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the crimes committed by McCoole “are nothing short of horrendous and I wouldn’t be supporting any mercy shown to him”.
“He certainly didn’t show any mercy to his victims,” Mr Marshall said.
“I can’t imagine that the Government in South Australia would be supporting this whatsoever and we would be joining them in that position.”