Episode notes
Having spent much of his youth and early adult life in some serious tangles with the law, all of a sudden, Eamon Cooke turns the other cheek. It’s as if he was trying to build a shield of protection around himself while at the same time committing the most serious crimes against children. And then he sets his eyes on an even better cover - taking over the pirate station, Radio Dublin. If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan,…
Podcast
Documentary on One Podcast
RTÉ Documentary on One · Society & Culture · English
Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,800 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One Podcast has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. Winner of over 400 nat
More from Documentary on One Podcast All episodes →
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22 Jun 2026 · 40 min
Pirate Predator: 07 - Endgame
After decades of abusing children with apparent impunity, the law was finally catching up with Eamon Cooke. Determined to stop him, Siobháin took her case to Gardaí—sparking what would become the case of Detective Inspector Gerry Kelly’s career. What followed was a grueling eight-year battle that pushed everyone involved to their absolute limits in the fight to finally put Cooke behind bars. If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines and if you’ve any information on Eamon Cooke, please email [email protected] or drop an anonymous tip via…
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15 Jun 2026 · 33 min
Pirate Predator: 06 - Duplicity
The 1980s was the decade in Ireland in which Pirate Radio hit both its peak, and also its lowest point when legislation enforced blanket closures. Except of course for Radio Dublin – under Eamon Cooke - who kept on broadcasting. He behaved like there was one rule for him, and one rule for everyone else. And his abuse of children continued, even as he began to make plans to start his own family… If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines and if you’ve any information on Eamon Cooke, please email [email protected] or drop an anonymous tip via…
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8 Jun 2026 · 33 min
Pirate Predator: 05 - Defiance
As the 1980s dawn, a new breed of super pirate radio stations arrive to rewrite the Irish rulebook, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. But as the decade progresses, Eamon Cooke’s dark, hidden double life continues in the shadows. The only question is how far will he go to maintain control? If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and…
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1 Jun 2026 · 32 min
Pirate Predator: 04 - Secrets and Lies
With Eamon Cooke at the helm of Radio Dublin, his true image begins to emerge. When child abuse allegations are brought to light, it's hoped that will put a stop to his behaviour. But Captain Cooke grows even bolder and sets out to bury the truth. This is also at a time when he begins to befriend Jimmy Saville... If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack…
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25 May 2026 · 33 min
Pirate Predator: 03 - Mutiny
In 1978, Radio Dublin made history as Ireland's first 24-hour station. But behind the scenes, a darker story was unfolding. Eamon Cooke, already a convicted criminal, was now in control of the pirate station Radio Dublin and began using his newfound influence to try to insulate himself from suspicion. If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed…
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11 May 2026 · 31 min
Pirate Predator: 01 - The Electrician
Long before he ruled the airwaves of Dublin’s pirate radio scene, Eamon Cooke was a man defined by a different kind of interference. His youth wasn't just rebellious; it was at times violent, volatile and unpredictable. These were the first glimpses into someone who was fast growing up into becoming a very dangerous man. If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music…
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29 Apr 2026 · 5 min
Pirate Predator: Trailer
Publishing weekly from May 12th 2026, Pirate Predator is a new series from RTÉ telling the definitive story of Eamon Cooke, a man of many faces who, on one hand, became a cult like figure - filling a void for disillusioned youth through Radio Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s - while on the other became one of Ireland's most prolific child sexual abusers. If you have any information about Eamon Cooke please contact us, in confidence, at [email protected]. Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy…
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30 Jan 2026 · 51 min
Jamaica Daly
Meg Daly uncovers her family’s hidden history of slavery in Jamaica. In this programme, we hear from local Jamaicans who helped Meg in her search for her ancestry and their family connections with slavery. Meg and her family also speak of the profound shame they now feel over the behaviour of their ancestors. (2026) Produced by Chris Nikkel and Ciarán O’Neill with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly and the Documentary On One team. Diary reader: Patrick Dunne. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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21 Jan 2026 · 44 min
Ireland's Fit-up Family
Stories from an Irish entertainment family which travelled the roads of the country over several decades. Stories like the man who died on stage; the man who refused to die on stage and the lack of virgins in Glenties! (2025) Narrated by Kevin Sullivan Produced by Ronan Kelly Agnes’ book: "The End of the Strolling Players" First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, 2PM, Monday 27th October 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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9 Jan 2026 · 41 min
The Longest Game
In 1986, a Limerick man called Terry Madigan came up with a plan to raise money for his local GAA club and community that everyone thought was crazy. Terry wanted to create a world record for the longest game of GAA football ever to be played. It would be 60 hours of football - non-stop on a full-sized pitch over a whole weekend. If this was going to work, it would need 14 brave men and the whole parish of Kilcornan to get involved. This is the story of that record attempt - the highs; the lows; the hallucinations - all set against the backdrop of a community of people bonded by the love of…
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