Courts / Louth / Report
Surgeon tells trial he has no memory of treating four indecent assault complainants
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault against six patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. Shine testified that he had no memory of treating four of the complainants and denied any indecent conduct. He admitted treating two patients, recalling a 1974 case of undescended testicles and a 1976 case of an infected toenail, but denied any inappropriate touching. The prosecution presented medical records linking three complainants to Shine, while the defense highlighted the absence of records for the others. Judge Cormac Quinn withdrew the charge against a 15‑year‑old boy, instructing the jury to find Shine not guilty of assaulting him. The trial's evidence phase concluded, with lawyers set to deliver closing arguments on Tuesday.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Surgeon tells trial he has no memory of treating four indecent assault complainants. Charges or matters: eight charges of indecently assaulting six patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and at his private clinic, both in Drogheda, Co Louth, on dates between 1964 and 1991. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 1964 and 1991 Other
- 1988 and 1991 Other
- 2017-10-27 Publication
Why: The accused told Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, that he examined the glands in the upper part of this patient's thigh because of the risk of the infection spreading. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: eight charges of indecently assaulting six patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and at his private clinic, both in Drogheda, Co Louth, on dates between 1964 and 1991 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Drogheda
- Drogheda hospital
- Lourdes Hospital
- Wellington Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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