By John Kierans - Irish Mirror - 02.06.2023
Three Gardai were investigated after being accused of trying to protect pervert Doctor Michael Shine, it has emerged. One of his victims claimed officers tried to dissuade him from making a formal complaint about the notorious surgeon. He was bluntly told if he was telling lies or couldn’t produce hard evidence, he would be forced by the Gardaí to apologise to Shine, 89. He told LMFM radio: ”The investigating Garda said I’ll be back in a week...” “If you haven’t got evidence I want you to write a letter of apology to Dr Shine for the stress you put him through. He is very, very upset and he can’t believe you are making this complaint against him.” “He came back to me a week later and I said I won’t be apologising to Shine but I will be withdrawing my complaint. I asked him what will I do with it and he said to put his name on it and sent it to Drogheda Garda Station and that will be the end of it”. The incident happened in 2003 but Dr Shine continued to practise for five more years afterwards despite the man’s initial complaint. Shine was jailed for four years in 2019 for indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital , Drogheda and at two private practice he had in the town .The incidents occurred between 1971 and 1992. Now at least 350 people, all former patients, have come forward and alleged Shine molested them. Many are suing for compensation. A Garda Superintendent in Drogheda referred the three Gardai to GSOC after the victim made a formal complaint about them. However no disciplinary action was taken against the Gardai after the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was not enough evidence to charge them. The CEO of Dignity4Patients , Adrienne Reilly which represents Shine’s victims said:” Victims very rarely have an actual voice.” “They are not heard when justice pathways are shut down and if they were heard you would now hear 350 like this victim telling their story and that’s the amount of people who engage with Dignity4Patients.”
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.