Hundreds of men claim that they were abused by over many years by the former surgeon who is now aged 93, but he has served only three years in prison thanks largely to the delaying tactics adopted by his legal team.
A leading human rights law firm acting for the group is now seeking a Commission of Investigation to probe claims that health and religious authorities failed to stop the abuse.
Much of the abuse perpetrated by Shine, now 93, took place largely while he worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1968 to 1995.
Hundreds of men claim that they were abused by Shine over decades, but in 2024, he is a free man after serving just three years in prison.
Following trials in 2017 and 2019, more charges were brought but “cumulative factors” – including Shine’s age and health, and a ‘misstep’ by the Director of Public Prosecutions – meant the case was never tried.
In addition to calls for a Commission of Investigation, Shine’s victims also want to see the findings of a 2009 review published.
The report, carried out by a High Court judge, has never been made public due to a legal technicality over who actually owns the report.
This afternoon, Taoiseach Simon Harris was asked by The Journal if the findings will be published and it was noted that the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said this was a matter for government party leaders and the Minister for Justice.
In response, the Taoiseach said he has “little tolerance” for Ministers pushing responsibility to other Departments.
The Taoiseach continued: “I was very taken by the testimony on The Journal yesterday from the victims of Shine who spoke bravely and very vividly in relation to the abuse that they experience.
“I am conscious of the fact that there have been a number of strands of investigation, if I may call it that. There’s been a court process, criminal and civil. There have been reports done.
“But what I’ve now asked for is that we stock take of where we’re actually at, what is possible in terms of information given or published, or what’s possible in terms of next steps, and I think it’s appropriate for the government to engage with victims.
“As I said yesterday, Shine is a vile individual who has brought pain and misery to the lives of many and it’s important we support them.”
When asked if there is any reason why the 2009 inquiry wouldn’t be published at this stage, the Taoiseach said he is currently checking that.
“I’ve asked for an overview from a number of parts of Government in relation to the various issues that have been raised,” he said.
When asked if he will meet with victims, represented by the Dignity4Patients group in the coming weeks, the Taoiseach said he does not know it if it best that he meets them or another member of the Government does, but that someone from the Government will certainly meet with them.
The chief executive of Dignity for Patients, Adrienne Reilly, has called for an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach Simon Harris about the establishment of a commission of investigation into abuse perpetrated by former surgeon Michael Shine.
On Monday Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Michael Shine “will not be found wanting” in terms of any healthcare supports they need, but stated the decision to hold a public inquiry is a matter for the Minister for Justice, the Taoiseach and party leaders.
Hundreds of men claim that they were abused, over decades, by the former surgeon, now 93, who served three years in prison. Dignity for Patients is calling for a public inquiry into the sexual abuse carried out by Shine. Ms Reilly pointed out that when the hospital where Michael Shine worked, which was owned by the Medical Missionaries of Mary, was sold in 1997, 1.6 million “old Irish pounds” was lodged into an account with legal firm Arthur Cox as an indemnity fund in the event that their insurers did not pay out on civil cases.
“It was called the Shine Fund. It still sits there. If there’s millions and millions in there that could be used for a commission of investigation or as part of the compensation, that’s one thing. And the second thing, many of the victims have issues accessing healthcare and going to doctors. Many of them have suffered medically. They would, more importantly, be seeking enhanced medical cards.
“A commission of investigation will allow all these avenues to be explored and uncover all the hidden truths that are available right now. And we really welcome what Simon Harris said yesterday. We would hope that we could hold him to his words and meet with us as soon as possible.”
Ms Reilly said it was outrageous that the results of an inquiry completed in 2009 have not yet been published. In an interview with The Journal, Mr Donnelly indicated that he might re-examine the possibility of publishing the results of that inquiry.
“That’s something that the victims have always been asking for. And it’s absolutely outrageous that it was never published,” she said “It has to be opened. The victims deserve to know what was in that.”
Ms Reilly said that the Taoiseach or the Minister for Justice should meet with victims to decide on the format of a commission of investigation which will have to uncover what happened to the victims, how it was allowed to happen, the roles of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, the gardaí, the northeastern health board and the medical council.
“Because each of these organisations and institutions along the way knew that the abuse was happening, and each of these institutions at various times failed little boys and children when they were accessing healthcare, and then when they were trying to access justice because they’d been sexually abused by Michael Shine.”
Local Labour TD Ged Nash has expressed his support for calls made by the Dignity4Patients group and individual survivors for a statutory Commission of Inquiry into the actions of convicted paedophile and former surgeon, Michael Shine.
“I want to commend the men who came forward, who waived their anonymity and spoke so courageously to the entire country about their experiences” Deputy Nash said.
“Their courage should be responded to by this government in the form of a statutory Commission of Inquiry into the actions, over many decades, of one of Ireland’s most notorious convicted paedophiles, and how a myriad of bodies responsible for running our health service and for dispensing justice managed to, in effect turn, a collective blind eye.
“This is not the first time I have called for a Commission of Inquiry in this regard. I know many of the survivors. They are contemporaries and many are friends. Shine was notorious to my generation of boys and men from Drogheda and across the North-East.
“Survivors have been cruelly let down by the authorities and the State time and time again. There has been no real justice and true accountability for the countless survivors. It is long past time that a Commission of Inquiry was established and for justice to be done.”
The minister also said any calls around a statutory inquiry would be a matter for Justice Minister Helen McEntee, the Taoiseach and party leaders to consider.
“It’s not a healthcare issue,” said Donnelly.
The abuse of one of Ireland’s most prolific paedophiles, former surgeon, Michael Shine has been brought back to public attention this week after victims of Shine broke their silence for the first time in a series of exclusive, in-depth interviews with The Journal.
Belfast firm Phoenix Law has formally written to Justice Minister Helen McEntee seeking a commission of investigation to be opened into “the actions of Michael Shine”.
At the opening of a new bypass in Co Kerry, Mr Harris said: “Michael Shine is a vile paedophile, prolific abuser who has brought pain and misery to many.
“His victims have today spoken with courage and in a vivid manner, and I want to thank them for that. I think their intervention is really important.
“I’m conscious that there have been matters before the court, civil and criminal. I’m conscious that there have been reports and consideration given by government departments, but in light of the very strong comments by the victims of Shine today, the Government will no doubt reflect on this and see what actions are appropriate.”
Mr Harris said he understands how the victims feel “frustrated” over how the allegations of abuse were handled.
He added:
“There is always that balance between not wishing to do anything to prejudice a matter that is before the court... Having said that, I think the victims’ request that we would now take stock of where we are now at, and as a Government, to consider these matters, is something we will now reflect on.”
Shine (93) was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.
More than 200 victims have settled civil actions against the Medical Missionaries of Mary.
