Ann Skakel McCooey — the sister of Ethel Kennedy and aunt of accused murderer Michael Skakel — was profiled in a recent New York Times Page One story when her nephew was granted a retrial in the shocking case that sent him to prison for 20 years in 2002.
McCooey is the woman Michael called his aunt, mom, sister and best friend, the piece reported, because she’s stood by him through his blockbuster trial, conviction — and now perhaps an appeal — over the grisly murder of teenager Martha Moxley in tony Greenwich, Conn., 38 years ago.
But McCooey, 80, like so many members of the sprawling Kennedy clan, has some dark secrets of her own.
According to a 1994 book, “The Other Mrs. Kennedy” by Jerry Oppenheimer, McCooey carried on a scandalous affair with William M. Fine, who had been a publisher of Harper’s Bazaar, in 1960.
In McCooey’s social circle back then, “There were lots of parties, drinking and fooling around,” recalled a resident. “It was a very hypocritical place. Once, our friend Bob Mathias, the Olympic star, a big, good-looking guy, came to visit and the women went bonkers . . . practically handing him their panties.” Another said of McCooey’s alleged affair with Fine: “It was almost as if Ann didn’t care who knew.”
The book further alleges that McCooey had an illegitimate child with Fine, causing a rift between her and Ethel at the time, and that, fearing a public scandal, Ethel forced then-Attorney General Bobby Kennedy to negotiate a quiet divorce settlement for McCooey.
Oppenheimer’s currently writing a biography of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has also defended Michael Skakel’s innocence in the Moxley case, and the author agrees Michael is innocent. “I always felt Skakel was innocent of this crime,” Oppenheimer told us. “My suspicion is he didn’t do the killing, but was present when it happened.”
Skakel — who lived with aunt McCooey during his original trial — is currently fighting to be released on bail while he awaits a new one.
A Skakel family rep didn’t return a request for comment.