Reilly makes U-turn as Shine inquiry ruled out

HEALTH Minister James Reilly has performed a U-turn on the Michael Shine case after ruling out any inquiry into how patient sexual abuse claims against the struck-off doctor were addressed.

Despite being an outspoken opposition critic of his predecessor Mary Harney’s refusal to open a fresh inquiry, the Fine Gael TD has decided that the investigation is no longer appropriate.

A spokesperson for the minister said the about-turn was because Dr Reilly may have been given fresh information since taking the health portfolio.

He added that while Dr Reilly put down a narrowly defeated Dáil motion for an inquiry in 2009, this was before a review by retired judge TC Smyth advised against such a move last autumn. This document, based on the experiences of large numbers of former patients of Mr Shine, noted that an inquiry may impact on potential criminal proceedings.

However, victims support group Dignity4Patients has criticised the defence, stating that Dr Reilly was highly critical of the lack of a fresh inquiry both before and after this review was completed. The group’s organiser, Bernadette Sullivan, added that alleged victims fear their experiences have been used for “party and personal electoral gain” by supporters such as Dr Reilly and other cabinet members, a scenario she said would be a form of re-abuse if true.

As a result, Dignity4Patients — which yesterday met the Medical Council — is seeking an “urgent” meeting with the minister by the end of this week.

The U-turn emerged as a garda investigation into claims Mr Shine sexually abused his patients for decades sent 109 cases to the DPP.

The claims centre around the actions of Mr Shine, 80, during his time as a consultant surgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda between the late 1960s and 1995, when he also had a private practice at nearby Fair Street.

Mr Shine, who always protested his innocence, was cleared of 11 indecent assault sample charges in a 2003 case. However, he was struck off the medical register during a Medical Council fitness-to-practice hearing in 2008.