Dr Michael Shine alleged sex abuse action settled

A High Court action by a man over alleged sexual abuse by Dr Michael Shine at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has been settled without admission of liability.

The case had been listed to be heard before a judge and jury.

Today, Eanna Mulloy SC for the man told Mr Justice Eamon deValera that the matter had been settled without admission of liability and could now be struck out.

No details of the settlement were revealed in open court and the terms of the agreement are believed to be confidential.

In his action seeking damages against Dr Shine, with an address of Fair Street Drogheda, the man now aged in his 50s, claimed that in 1979 he had been sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital after sustaining a serious knee injury while playing a football match.

The claimed that he had been referred to Dr Shine, who at the time was a consultant ortopedaedic Specialist who conducted his practise at the hospital, by his GP.

The man claimed that his penis and scrotum were fondled for two periods of about five minutes on two occasions during the course of an examination of his knee conducted by Dr Shine.

The man, who sought damages for the personal injuries he claimed he suffered. He had further sought aggravated and exemplary damages.

It was claimed he was extremely traumatised and was left very psychologically disturbed by what had happened to him.

It was claimed that the man had a disturbed childhood and had been physically and sexually abused by his father.

What had happened to him had resulted in the recurrence of psychological problems which had affected him as a child, it was also claimed.

In his defence, Dr Shine denied that he assaulted the man or having breached the man's bodily and personal integrity. The man, it was submitted, was not entitled to damages.

If that man had suffered any injury or loss as claimed, Dr Shine was not liable. Dr Shine further claimed that the action against him was statute barred and that there had been an unreasonable and undue delay in bringing the proceedings.