Minister confirms scoping exercise into sex offender Michael Shine has commenced

Minister for Health Jennifer Caroll MacNeill has confirmed the scoping exercise into disgraced sex offender Michael Shine has commenced.

To date, over 390 men have made allegations against Michael Shine, a former surgeon, who worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 until 1995.

Minister for Health Jennifer Caroll MacNeill told the Dáíl that victims have carried trauma and have sought recognition and accountability for decades. 

Minister Carroll MacNeill confirmed Lorcan Staines SC has been appointed as the independent facilitator for the scoping exercise and that his work commenced on March 3rd and is expected to last 16 weeks. 

Shine, who is now aged in his mid-90s was convicted in 2017 and 2019 of sexual offences and in 2020 he was convicted of assaulting seven boys between 1971 and 1992. He served three years in prison.

Labour TD Ged Nash said thousands of men in Louth and Meath may have been affected but have chosen not to come forward. 

"The first contribution I made in this Chamber on my election 15 years ago was in relation to the actions of Michael Shine, who is probably one of Ireland's most prolific paedophiles."

"Hundreds of men in my community, specifically in Drogheda but also in the wider Louth and Meath areas, have made formal complaints to An Garda Síochána over many years about the disgraceful actions of Michael Shine over many decades." 

"We are of the view that thousands of men across my community may very well have been affected but have chosen for their own reasons not to come forward. 

"These men are my peers and my contemporaries and their lives have been extremely adversely affected because of the abuse and sexual violence perpetrated against them by a doctor working in our health service over many decades who behaved so many ways in a untrammelled fashion, unchallenged by anyone else bar a few who worked alongside him and those who decided to blow the whistle, who were inevitably targeted for the actions they undertook to expose this scandal, and it is a scandal."

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú said there may be more victims of Shine that have not come forward.

"I have an abject fear that that does not represent all the people abused by Michael Shine, a consultant who was able to operate like God. 

There were failures by Our Lady of Lourdes, the Medical Missionaries of Mary, the Garda and successive Departments of Health, and there was failure by this State and its governments over many years. 

"I welcome that Lorcan Staines is in position, and we have a timeline for a scoping exercise, but it needs to deliver a full public inquiry that delivers.

When Deputy Joanna Byrne had a presentation in the audiovisual room. 'Horrified' does not even cut it in relation to what was done to these people and the failure to provide them with truth and justice."

“We need to make sure that happens. For far too long we have been in here dealing with the failures of the State. We need delivery for those who have been abused and have survived.”

Local Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly said the commencement of the scoping exercise is a "significant and long-awaited step" for survivors.

"This is a significant and long-awaited step and it is important we acknowledge how long it has taken to get here." 

"Their perseverance is the reason we are here today. Their determination has kept this issue in the public eye and pushed the State towards the action it should have taken long ago."

"To date, more than 400 men have come forward. One man aided and abetted by a society and institutions of secrecy and complicity did this to over 400 young boys and men. How did this happen? Who knew? Who did not want to believe? Who knew but simply chose to look the other way and who did nothing?" she said. 

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Joanna Byrne said:

“As a Drogheda based TD, I was honoured to be able to host a very emotive briefing in Leinster House last year for Oireachtas members where survivors of Michael Shines horrific abuse shared their personal testimony with us and Dignity4Patients set out their public campaign for an independent inquiry. As a newly elected TD I wanted to ensure that these voices were heard loudly and clearly in the corridors of power”

“I am heartened to hear that they are now seeing the Minister for Health deliver on the commitment made regarding the scoping exercise . In particular I was struck by Cianan Murray’s comments that, 'for the first time since the failed Drogheda Review in 2010 that he is feeling positive about this'.

This must now lead to a full independent inquiry that will deliver for all of those who have been failed for so long, and I will continue to work alongside my Dáil colleagues in Louth to keep the voices of survivors front and centre.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.