Taoiseach to Consider Public Inquiry as More Michael Shine Accusers Come Forward
The call for a public inquiry into the actions of convicted Drogheda surgeon Michael Shine has gained renewed momentum as four men have publicly shared their stories of alleged sexual abuse. The men, all from County Louth, have come forward in the hopes that their bravery will finally lead to a full public inquiry into the crimes of the now 93-year-old former doctor.
Gerard Murray (53) and Ian Armstrong (60) from Drogheda, Larry Torris (40) from Dunleer, and Cian Murray (68) from Duleek have spoken out about the abuse they claim to have suffered at the hands of Shine, who worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for over 30 years. Their accounts were detailed in an interview with journalist Saoirse McGarrigle of Journal.ie.
In response to the revelations, Taoiseach Simon Harris condemned Shine as a “vile paedophile” and acknowledged the pain and suffering he caused to his victims. The Taoiseach stated that the Government would “reflect” on the victims’ calls for a public inquiry into the alleged abuses committed by Shine, whom he described as a “prolific abuser.”
“I think the victims’ request that we would now take stock of where we are, and as a Government, consider these matters, is something we will now reflect on,” Harris added.
The four men have been supported by the Drogheda-based advocacy group Dignity 4 Patients and are represented by Phoenix Law, the same firm that represents the Stardust Families and victims of former basketball coach Bill Kenneally, another convicted sexual offender. A letter requesting an urgent meeting has also been sent to Justice Minister Helen McEntee, while Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has promised that victims of Shine’s abuse “will not be found wanting” in terms of healthcare support. However, Donnelly noted that the decision to hold a public inquiry lies with the Minister for Justice, the Taoiseach, and other party leaders.
Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity 4 Patients, welcomed the Taoiseach’s comments but expressed frustration that the victims had to go public to gain the attention their cause deserves.
“It is galling that they’ve been forced to actually reveal and relive the horrific sexual abuse that they were subjected to in order to get the attention at the level that it needs to be at, which is at the Taoiseach’s office,” Reilly stated. “But the main thing is that they really hope now that he’s going to act on those words and meet with them immediately.”
Over the course of three decades, hundreds of men have alleged that they were abused by Michael Shine, who served three years in prison following his conviction in 2019. Dignity 4 Patients has long called for a public inquiry into Shine’s actions, seeking to uncover who knew about the abuse and how institutions may have failed to protect the victims.
“They want an inquiry to look at, and to put on record, the abuse they were subjected to, so it can never be said it didn’t happen,” Reilly explained. “They want to know who knew what; who in the hospital knew what Michael Shine was doing, who in the Northeastern Health Board knew, who in the Medical Missionaries of Mary knew, who in the Gardai knew, and who in the DPP knew, and how these institutions and organisations might have failed to protect them as children.”
Reilly emphasized the need for a commission of investigation with the legal powers to call witnesses and obtain documents, so that the full truth of Michael Shine actions and the failures of those who were supposed to protect the victims can be exposed.
At his trials in 2017 and 2019, Shine was convicted of assaulting nine boys. Over 200 victims have since settled civil actions against the Medical Missionaries of Mary, the religious order that was in charge of the hospital.
Louth Labour TD Ged Nash has also voiced his support for a statutory Commission of Inquiry, calling on the Government to respond to the victims’ courage with decisive action.
“Their courage should be responded to by this government in the form of a statutory Commission of Inquiry into the actions, over many decades, of one of Ireland’s most notorious convicted paedophiles, and how a myriad of bodies responsible for running our health service and for dispensing justice seemed to manage to, in effect turn, a collective blind eye,” Deputy Nash said.
“This is not the first time I have called for a Commission of Inquiry in this regard. I know many of the survivors. They are contemporaries and many are friends. Shine was notorious to my generation of boys and men from Drogheda and across the North-East.”
If you have been affected by this article, contact Dignity 4 Patients on their Get Help Now Helpline: 041 – 9843730. SMS Text: 086 – 1654111. Email: support@dignity4patients.org. Monday – Thursday 10am – 4pm. Out of Hours: 1800 778 888.