How Danish investigations into international paedophile syndicate snared Families SA predator Shannon McCoole
FAMILIES SA predator Shannon McCoole’s secret life at the top of an international paedophile syndicate began to unravel when Danish authorities busted one of his depraved associates.
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FAMILIES SA predator Shannon McCoole’s secret life at the top of an international paedophile syndicate began to unravel when Danish authorities busted one of his depraved associates.
The Advertiser can reveal that 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.
Details of new charges of transmitting child pornography and urging another to transmit child porn can now be revealed, after McCoole admitted to his role at the top of the international child pornography ring yesterday.
The District Court heard chilling details of the online pornography club, including regulations forcing members to post new images at least every month or face expulsion.
The more images provided, the higher they rose in the organisation, which had “thousands of members” according to court documents, and Adelaide’s McCoole was the site’s administrator.
The documents show that, since his appointment to this role following the arrests of his predecessors, member numbers had tripled.
The path from Europe to McCoole’s Oaklands Park home was through a Panasonic DMC-FX38 camera found by Danish police investigating a Dutchman over a paedophile ring.
The camera was later found in McCoole’s home, along with 100,000 still images and 600 video files of child exploitation material.
McCoole had tried to conceal his identity in the photos of him abusing the Adelaide children but police were able to identify McCoole by matching his fingerprints from the photographs.
Court documents show McCoole tried to use a “wiping program” to remove identifying metadata from the camera, but police were able to obtain it through sophisticated information-gathering techniques.
Handwriting found with the child exploitation material was also a match with McCoole’s.
Yesterday, the court heard the horrific consequences of McCoole’s crimes from the families of his seven Adelaide victims.
One of his victims was only about 18 months old when abused by the predator.
A grandmother of one of the victims, a boy who was three at the time, said McCoole’s actions had destroyed her family.
“Shannon McCoole, I say to you that the pain you have inflicted on others for your sexual gratification will never fade,” she said.
One mother cried and had to leave court as her victim impact statement was read.
McCoole read a tearful apology to the court — the first time he has shown any outward remorse for his crimes.
Judge Paul Rice read aloud a post McCoole wrote congratulating his exclusive executive members on a tough but successful year, along with images of him abusing young children. McCoole will next appear in court next month.