New documentary on Philip Cairns case

Following the recent new evidence which has emerged in relation to the disappearance of Dublin schoolboy Philip Cairns in 1986, TV3 tomorrow night examines the fresh claims that Philip was murdered by pirate radio operator Eamon Cooke at his Radio Dublin studios in Inchicore, in a new documentary airing at 10pm.

The convicted paedophile, who died earlier this month at the age of 79, has now been linked to one of the most prolific missing persons cases in Ireland after a woman came forward to Gardaí claiming to have new information about the case.

Thirteen year-old Philip Cairns had been a first-year student at his school for just over a month when he went home during his lunch break, but never returned. His schoolbag was found dumped in a laneway close to his home six days later. In light of this fresh information, his schoolbag will now be examined for DNA evidence.

Former DJs who worked with Cooke at Radio Dublin, as well as others who knew the convicted child abuser, including Denis Murray, James Dillon, Don Moore,  Stuart Clarke, now deputy editor of Hot Press and Peter Mulryan, author of 'Radio Radio', speak about the pirate operator.

Other contributors include John Farrelly, retired Chief Superintendent, An Garda Síochána; Alan Bailey, retired Detective Sergeant, An Garda Síochána; Angela Copley, community worker for victims of sexual abuse and Gerry O'Carroll, retired Detective Inspector, An Garda Síochána.

Don Moore - 'Doctor Don', recalls a day when he went to see Cooke at his house: “When he answered the door he was surrounded by children. I always remember that. I thought they might have been his brother’s kids, his cousins…”

Moore adds: I remember telling him quite clearly that that transmitter and that signal and that frequency is mine, you will not take it away. And his answer was ‘Ah sure I’ll get a gun and I’ll go over and shoot you. And I said you’ll probably go to jail for that and he said, ‘that wouldn’t be the first time.’”

Stuart Clarke recalls: “Certainly I remember in Radio Dublin there could have been a dozen young kids sat around. Some had been doing programmes, most were answering the telephones which were just ringing off the wall. It was all requests for kids who were madly in love with whomever and sometimes it felt like a bit of a crash in there. There was a lot of kids, they’d come in their school gear. I do remember going in one day at about 5/5.30 and there was two or three, I’d say 14/15 year-olds in their convent outfits and one of those I know Cooke regularly took home in his car.”

In early 1978, rumours began circulating in Radio Dublin about “the boss’s behaviour”, in particular his unusual “friendships” with young girls, who sometimes hung around the station.

Peter Mulryan claims: “People in the radio station knew he was fiddling with kids, absolutely.”

James Dillon, deeply concerned with Cooke’s activities decided to leave Radio Dublin and set up a rival station, The Big D. Cooke was incensed and took to the airwaves to publicly defend himself and condemn the treachery of Dillon and his former employees.

In 2003, Cooke was convicted for attempted rape, attempted unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual and indecent assault of four girls. But the conviction was later quashed on a legal technicality. He was released in May 2006 but was brought again to court and in 2007 was finally convicted of 42 counts of child abuse.

‘Philip Cairns – Fresh Evidence’ airs Tuesday 28th June at 10pm on TV3.