‘He healed my hand, but wrecked my head’ – victim recalls abuse by surgeon Michael Shine
- Dignity 4Patients
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
Statutory inquiry will be carried out into crimes of paedophile doctor
By Eilish O'Regan - 17/07/2026 - Irish Independent - [Michael Shine]
A man who was sexually abused as a teenager by surgeon Michael Shine hopes a statutory inquiry into how allegations against the doctor were pursued will uncover the truth.
Ian Armstrong (62), a former chef from Drogheda, Co Louth, was commenting after it was confirmed that a full statutory inquiry into prolific sexual offender Shine, who was a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, will go ahead.
The inquiry was recommended by senior counsel Lorcan Staines, who was asked by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to do a scoping exercise to determine what kind of investigation should be carried out.
Shine worked as a senior registrar and, later, a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes between 1964 and 1995.
At two trials, in 2017 and 2019, he was found guilty of assaults against nine boys. He served three years in prison. He is now in his 90s and lives in Dublin.
Mr Armstrong recalled how he attended Shine in the hospital and in his private clinic for a serious hand injury when he was in his late teens.
“He was a great surgeon,” Mr Armstrong said. “He healed my hand, but wrecked my head.”
Mr Armstrong was touched inappropriately while Shine spoke into a voice recorder, he recalled. He knew something was wrong, and later sought counselling abroad and in Ireland.
He realised he was not alone when other allegations became public.
Mr Armstrong welcomed Mr Staines’s report and said he hopes the inquiry will seek accountability from various bodies.
He also paid tribute to support group Dignity4Patients and to whistleblower Bernadette Sullivan, a former nurse who championed their cause.
More than 200 people have settled civil claims against the Medical Missionaries of Mary religious order, which oversaw the running of the hospital at that time.
In the executive summary of his report, Mr Staines said: “I have formed the view that, given the number of victims and survivors – currently standing at over 400 – and the significant issues raised by them, which have not previously been examined sufficiently, or at all, a further state response is required.
“Given the significant passage of time since the events [that are] the subject of this scoping exercise occurred, I am also of the view that any state response should be bespoke and tailored to the specific issues raised, as well as carried out as expeditiously as possible.
“I recommend a six-phase Commission of Investigation to be established by way of statutory instrument pursuant to the Commission of Investigation Act 2004.
“The first phase should be an independent, document-based examination of the history of the criminal complaints made to the gardaí, the submission of complaints to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, of decisions made to prosecute or not to prosecute.
“Another phase will enable victims and survivors to describe, in their own words, what happened to them and the impact of the abuse on them in a respectful, structured and potentially evidentially useful way.”
The report said that, during his time practising as a surgeon, Shine was well-connected in the community and strongly supported by staff in the hospital. He was involved in sports, particularly tennis.
“Following his retirement, it appears that Shine went on to do a BA in Philosophy in Milltown Institute from 1996 to 1999,” the report said.
Mr Staines said “the victims and survivors whom I met – approximately 75 in all – were middle-aged to elderly men from all walks of life in Drogheda and the surrounding areas. They made a considerable impression on me”.
He added: “They were polite, measured and visibly grateful to have someone listen to them in an informal environment. Many were self-deprecating and underplayed the seriousness of what had happened to them.
“The damage done to these men was palpable, even following the passage of time. It was also clear that the harm had not been borne by them alone, but had often radiated outward to their families and to those who cared for them.
“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.”
Shine sponsored children through SOS Children’s Villages India and visited them in Kochi. He also volunteered on occasion at the Medical Missionaries of Mary hospital in Nigeria.
Ms Carroll MacNeill said all recommendations have been accepted and terms of reference will now be drawn up.
Adrienne Reilly, chief executive of Dignity4Patients, said the report was 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.”
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available.
If you have previously used our service, we encourage you to get in touch again for support.
We also welcome contact from anyone who wishes to participate in an inquiry process, including individuals with relevant information, whether or not they are victims.
The Dignity4Patients helpline is open Monday to Thursday, from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Contact the team by phone on 041 984 3730 or text 086 165 4111.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: This survivor’s testimony is a stark reminder that the devastating impact of abuse can last a lifetime, extending far beyond the individual to families and loved ones who carry its consequences alongside them. Survivors deserve to have their voices heard and acknowledged, and to see meaningful accountability and justice.
