'The dogs on the street knew what was happening': Report recommends Commission of Investigation into Michael Shine
Michael Shine was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019. File picture: Collins Courts
A multi-phase Commission of Investigation into disgraced surgeon and paedophile Michael Shine should begin immediately, it has been recommended.
Shine, aged 94, was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.
Victims’ group Dignity4Patients had called for a public inquiry to probe how claims of decades of abuse at a hospital in Louth and at Shine’s private practice were handled.
He had worked as a senior registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 to 1995.
Read More
The Government tasked Lorcan Staines SC with conducting a scoping exercise into Shine following consultation with Dignity4Patients.
In his report, published on Thursday, he recommended the commencement of a six-phase Commission of Investigation which should start “immediately”.
The Department of Health said the Government accepts the recommendations “in full”, with officials beginning consultation with the office of the Attorney General for the Commission of Investigation.
In the scoping exercise, which was not a statutory inquiry and was not fact finding, Mr Staines said the damage done to victims and survivors was “palpable”.
He said several common themes emerged from the accounts: “Allegations of abuse reported to me involved a broad range of ages, including reports of abuse when victims were children, teenagers and young adults.
“Allegations were reported as having occurred in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in Michael Shine’s private practice in Fair Street, Drogheda, and in Michael Shine’s own home, with the earliest allegation said to have occurred in 1964 and the latest in 1990.”
He added: “Nearly all of the victims who spoke to me were of the view that Michael Shine’s conduct was a matter of public knowledge at the time. Many referred to local warnings, local comments, and the phrase that ‘the dogs on the street’ knew what was happening.
“There was unanimous agreement among those I spoke to that the response to their allegations had been unsatisfactory.
“Concerns were raised in relation to virtually every body or organisation which had responsibility to deal with the alleged conduct, including the Hospital staff and board, the North Eastern Health Board, the Medical Council, An Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, subsequent reviews, and the courts.”
Dignity4Patients chief executive Adrienne Reilly said the response to the report has been overwhelmingly positive.
“This a historic moment. Finally there is something on the record going towards full vindication of all the victims and survivors of convicted sexual offender Michael Shine," she said.
“Many have waited for this moment for over 30 years. Many living in silence much longer.”
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “I welcome the publication of the report of the scoping exercise into Michael Shine.
“I want to acknowledge the bravery of the individuals who came forward to share their lived experience with the facilitator.
“It is clear that their experiences have shaped the report and its recommendations.
She added: “I would like to express my thanks to Mr Lorcan Staines for the victim-centred engagement he has had with the victims and survivors.
“I would also like to thank Dignity4Patients for their collaboration with Mr Staines throughout the process.”
Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed the Dignity4Patients Group would be centrally involved in the drawing up of terms of reference for a Commission of Investigation.
Mr Harris also said there would be funding allocated to the group to ensure that victims and survivors of Shine would be supported through the process.
The Tánaiste said it was not enough to say the victims and survivors of Shine had been ignored, arguing that description failed to capture how “despicably” and “cruelly” they had been treated.
Labour TD Ged Nash welcomed the decision to begin consultation on a Commission of Investigation.
“The overwhelming emotion this morning among the men is one of relief. Relief that they are being listen to,” Mr Nash said.
“So used to having doors slammed in their faces, a door to truth and recovery and real restorative justice is now being opened by the State through the Government.”
He said questions must be asked of agencies such as the former North Eastern Health Board, adding they “knew very well what was going on”.
“The dogs in the street in Drogheda knew what Shine was doing to young boys and men,” Mr Nash said.
The Louth TD said many of the victims and survivors of Shine are friends of his.
“We've said time and again that the spell in jail does not justice make, and a light must be shone into the environment that allowed a prolific paedophile to operate within our public health service with impunity, unchallenged for over 30 years,” Mr Nash said.
Mr Harris praised the survivors and victims for coming forward to share their lived experience.
“Clearly there is a need to investigate this fully,” Mr Harris said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
