Probe into alleged sexual assaults by former surgeon

AN inquiry into the alleged sexual assault of patients by former Drogheda surgeon Michael Shine will be conducted, Health Minister James Reilly has said.

The support group for former patients, Dignity 4 Patients, said the news about the inquiry was a long time coming.

The group’s executive director, Bernadette Sullivan, said Dignity 4 Patients had been calling for an inquiry into the assaults for almost 17 years.

Mr Shine, who worked at Out Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 until 1995, was struck off the medical register in 2008 after being found guilty of professional misconduct over inappropriate behaviour towards three male patients who attended the hospital.

He was acquitted of all indecent assault charges when tried at Dundalk Circuit Criminal court in 2003. Since he was struck off the medical register, more than 200 additional patients have come forward alleging abuse.

Dr Reilly said he believed that many people had been caused undue suffer- ing because the issue had not been “aired in public”.

The question of holding an inquiry had been raised by Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty when the minister appeared before a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children

Dr Reilly said he had discussed the matter with the Attorney General and they had agreed that the inquiry would be held following the referendum on the Abbeylara judgment later this year.

Oireachtas committees have been precluded from holding inquiries that might result in adverse findings against individuals since the judgment.

Dr Reilly said the inquiry into the sexual assaults would be held once Oireachtas committees had the power to compel witnesses to attend.

Last year, a report by a retired High Court judge, appointed by former Minister for Health Mary Harney, recommended an inquiry into the sexual assaults should not take place.

Mr Justice TC Smyth said that such an inquiry would be of no significant benefit to anyone.

Ms O’Sullivan said previous reviews had left many of those affected extremely disillusioned and traumatised and the inquiry must first of all address their needs. “The system’s failure that occurred to allow the abuse and wrongdoing to take place needs to be addressed and accountability of all who failed in their duty of care to protect patients needs to be disclosed.”