Official inquiry into Shine a possibility, says Harney

AN official investigation into disgraced surgeon Michael Shine will be considered by government after gardaí complete their investigation into allegations he abused teenage patients for more than 30 years at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Health Minister Mary Harney told the Dáil last night that she will discuss the possibility of a State inquiry with her cabinet colleagues and the Attorney General, but it is unlikely it would take place until gardaí complete their work on the case.

Fine Gael accused the minister of sending out “mixed messages” about whether such an inquiry would take place and said she was more interested in “legal niceties” than justice for almost 150 men who claim they were abused by the doctor.

The opposition challenged the minister to commit to an inquiry during a Dáil private members motion tabled jointly by Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

Dr Shine was found not guilty during a court case in October 2003 after a number of men accused him of abusing them while they were teenage patients at the hospital. However, he was struck off the medical register for professional misconduct last year following an investigation by the Medical Council.

Ms Harney said the actions of Mr Shine “interfered in a very fundamental way in that privileged relationship between a doctor and a patient”.

But she said when these issues first came to light in 1995, the then Fine Gael minister for health, Micheal Noonan, set up an inquiry of the case carried out by Dr Miriam Hederman O’Brien and then decided a further inquiry was not warranted.

Ms Harney said she will hold further discussions with the Garda Commissioner on investigations into a number of claims against Mr Shine, as well as the Attorney General, and her cabinet colleagues before deciding on an investigation. She will also meet again with the group representing victims of Dr Shine, Dignity 4 Victims.

Fine Gael spokesman on health, Dr James Reilly, told the Dáil that court proceedings against Mr Shine should not prevent the Government from setting up an inquiry.

“I’m just concerned at the ambivalence and the mixed messages coming from the Government side,” he said.