Dignity4Patients - Press Statement 30.06.2025
- Dignity 4Patients
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
VICTIMS REPLY TO MINISTER FOR HEALTHS REQUEST TO OUTLINE THEIR PARTICULAR ASKS FROM A COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION Today, Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity4Patients, responded to a recent request from the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, for a short paper outlining ‘the particular issues victims want addressed in a Commission of Investigation’ into the abuses committed by Michael Shine, as well as the state’s failures to respond to and support these victims.
Following three rounds of engagement with victims and survivors, and consultations with a leading expert on public inquiries Dr. James Gallen, alongside legal advice and guidance from Diarmuid Brecknell at Phoenix Law, the documents were submitted to the Minister’s office this morning.
Dignity4Patients offers support, information, and advocacy to more than 384 victims of sexual abuse by former surgeon and convicted offender Michael Shine. While working at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, his Private Clinic and Consultation Room, and visiting the Daughters of Charity Orphanage, Michael Shine allegedly abused children over several decades. Many victims are still awaiting any form of justice.
Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity4Patients, stated, “the victims have worked really hard over the past few weeks to give the Minister something real to work with regarding their asks from a Commission of Investigation. They see this as a starting point to finding out the truth. The truth of how Michael Shine, a known sexual abuser, was allowed over thirty years access to children and young people, why it happened, who was responsible for protecting them and didn’t, accountability, acknowledgement, and an apology, and for this never to happen again.”
She added, “Having provided these documents today, they are hopeful for meaningful engagement with the government. We urge them to listen to victims and seriously consider their commitment to deliver an inquiry and a truth recovery process, under the umbrella of a type of statutory Commission of Investigation in these victims’ case.”
While our survivors stand in solidarity with other abuse victims obtaining their investigations into state failings re. sexual abuse, they struggle to understand why hundreds of victims seeking the same justice continue to be ignored.
Victims of Michael Shine—many of whom were children at the time of abuse—were repeatedly told they were “the only one” and not believed when they came forward, whether as children or adults. Now, they demand recognition and access to effective justice. At this time, we also ask that if anyone else has been abused in the past by Michael Shine to come forward for support and report these crimes.
Media Contact and for interviews: CEO – Adrienne Reilly, 0830886301
Helpline Support: 041 9843730 Monday – Thursday 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Email: support@dignity4patients.org Website: www.dignity4patients.org Twitter: @Dignity4patient
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm. Press Statement in Full - PDF
