Full inquiry will be required to get the truth for victims of Michael Shine
- Dignity 4Patients
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Sinn Fein News- 04/03/2026- [Matt Carthy TD]
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, has commended the victims of Michael Shine for their relentless pursuit of truth and justice.
Speaking on Wednesday, The Cavan-Monaghan TD said that the scoping exercise announced by government is a potentially welcome step but that it must lead to a full, independent inquiry.
Teachta Carthy said:
“Sinn Féin welcomes the announcement of a scoping exercise into the horrific abuse carried out by former surgeon Michael Shine. Survivors and their families have shown immense courage over decades in seeking truth and accountability, and their voices must remain central to this process.
“While this is a positive development, it must lead to a full, independent statutory inquiry that establishes the full extent of the abuse and how it was allowed to continue for so long. Survivors deserve answers, accountability and justice, and the state must ensure that the failures that enabled this abuse are fully exposed and never repeated.
“The road to securing this scoping exercise is a familiar story.
“Allegations in respect of Michael Shine first emerged in the 1970s and they continued throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
“For well over two decades victims have been coming forward, demanding to know how a man with such power over them was allowed to abuse that power in such a depraved way. They have a right to know who turned a blind eye, who facilitated the cover up, who was responsible for the failures that allowed these crimes to continue for so long.
“Any of us who have met those victims knew that this represented another scandal that warranted an independent inquiry.
“I commend those Sinn Féin representatives that repeatedly raised this matter during times when others stayed silent. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Gerry Adams, Arthur Morgan and Imelda Munster never let this matter rest, and in more recent times, Joanna Byrne and Ruairi Ó Murchú have ensured that the voices of the victims were heard in Leinster House.
“For years Sinn Féin has supported the victims. For years, governments comprising of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, PDs, the Green Party and several Independents stone-walled.
“But, the delivery of this scoping exercise is down to those victims who told their stories again and again, and to their representative body, Dignity4Patients. They deserve great praise.
“While I welcome the fact that we have a scoping exercise, I fear that scoping exercises can often be used as a delaying mechanism. I hope it’s not the case in this instance. I respect Lorcan Staines, and I hope that we will now quickly get to the point where finally, after so many years, there is a thorough independent inquiry into all facets of this case so that Michael Shine’s victims will finally get the truth.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: Dignity4Patients thanks Sinn Féin for their support this week as the commencement of a Scoping Exercise is warmly welcomed by victims and survivors, many of whom have campaigned with immense courage to have their voices heard.
Adrienne Reilly, CEO, noted: “This marks an important and positive step forward for the victims who have shown immense courage in launching a public campaign to seek truth, acknowledgment and accountability.”
This development is welcome and look forward to working closely with Lorcan Staines, Phil Scraton, Maeve Lewis and others involved in progressing this work to deliver the transparency and accountability that victims and survivors have long sought and deserve.
