Louth survivors finally feel ‘listened to’ after Michael Shine scoping report
Victims and campaigners have welcomed the publication of the report
Victims and survivors of convicted surgeon Michael Shine have said they finally feel they have been “listened to” and “believed” following the publication of a long-awaited scoping report into the abuse they suffered.
The comments came from campaign group Dignity4Patients after the Minister for Health published the findings of the Scoping Exercise into allegations against the former surgeon, who was convicted of sexual offences against patients.
The report, prepared by Senior Counsel Lorcan Staines following consultations with more than 75 victims and survivors, recommended a full statutory inquiry be carried out.
Shine, aged 94, was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.
He had worked as a senior registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 to 1995.
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 said the publication represented a “historic moment” for survivors, many of whom had waited more than 30 years to have their experiences formally acknowledged.
Adriene Reilly CEO said:
“Everyone at Dignity4Patients is very pleased that this has happened today. It is 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.
“Many have waited for this moment for over thirty years. Many living in silence much longer.
“When whistleblower nurse Bernadette Sullivan put her neck on the line back in 1994 by reporting the mishandling of the first complaint, she was threatened, her career was threatened, she was told she would lose her home. It was horrific. All because she was someone in the medical profession who did not want little children and young people sexually abused in her workplace, where they were accessing health care, or as we would say ‘there to be minded’. Think about that.
“The response from victims has been overwhelmingly positive.”
“One response has been that “It’s a historic day for the victims of Michael Shine but just one milestone of many more to come.”
Larry Torris, one of the victims who went public in 2024 said on reading the report that he was “not really shocked about the time it took, even though it was short, he was more shocked in the fact that it’s here and it’s real and that it is going to be published.”
“Another told Dignithy4Patients ‘It makes for very upsetting reading, being referred to as a victim”.
“And another said “I just finished reading it and am shocked with certain parts. If the government refuses a public inquiry, they will be an utter total disgrace”
“The impact of this in terms of trauma and support requirements cannot be underestimated.
“The victims and survivors and Dignity4Patients look forward to working with the Department going forward in drafting any Terms of Reference for a Commission of Investigation prior to submission to government for approval. We hope this will be later in the year.”
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD welcomed the report, saying:
"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.
"I would like to express my thanks to Mr Lorcan Staines for the victim centered 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.”
The publication of the report was also welcomed by politicians across Louth, with cross-party calls for the Government to move quickly to establish a Commission of Investigation into the actions of Michael Shine and the institutional response to the abuse.
Labour TD Ged Nash described the publication as "a hugely significant moment for the many victims and survivors who have waited far too long for real justice and accountability."
"The recommendation of the scoping report is clear. Government must now act on it – the recommendation for a six-phase Commission of Investigation, chaired by one person with all phases running concurrently and expeditiously," he said.
Deputy Nash said the men had shown "extraordinary courage" over many years and deserved "nothing less than a comprehensive inquiry and one that is victim and survivor-centred."
"The scale and gravity of Shine's activities remains almost impossible to fully comprehend. We are talking about a prolific offender who was allowed to assault boys and young men, unchallenged, over many years," he added.
Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne also welcomed the publication of the report, describing it as "an important milestone for survivors of the convicted sexual offender Michael Shine, who have said that they finally felt listened to and believed."
She paid tribute to whistleblower Bernadette Sullivan, survivors who came forward and Dignity4Patients for their advocacy, adding: "The report must now pave the way for a Commission of Investigation, and I will continue to work closely with Dignity4Patients and my Oireachtas colleagues to advance this."
Deputy Byrne also said the trauma experienced by survivors and their ongoing support needs "must now be front and centre", adding that she would continue pressing the Minister for Health for additional advocacy resources.
Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan said the Government's acceptance of the report's recommendations marked an important step towards uncovering the truth.
"Today's outcome would not have been possible without the bravery of survivors, the tireless campaigning of Dignity4Patients and the determination of those who fought to ensure their voices were heard," she said.
"Many questions remain unanswered and the survivors deserve to know how this abuse caused by this vile man was allowed to happen and continue for so long."
She said a formal inquiry would provide an opportunity "to uncover the full truth" and that "the victims of this vile abuse deserve answers."
Fianna Fáil Senator Alison Comyn also welcomed the Government's decision, describing it as "a defining moment in one of the darkest chapters in Irish medical history."
"Many have waited more than thirty years for this moment. Some feared they would never see it. Today they know they have been heard. They know they have been believed," she said.
Government has accepted the recommendations of the report in full. Officials in the Department of Health say they will work in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the victims and survivors on drafting the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed Commission of Investigation. The final ToR will be submitted for Government approval.