Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail would kill surgeon convicted of sexually assaulting teen patients, lawyers say
Summary
In December 2017, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted 85‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. Shine had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991. The court heard victim impact statements and medical records. One victim described being tied to a bed, restrained, and having his testicles massaged by Shine, leading to lasting anxiety, insomnia and depression. The second victim recounted being massaged at a follow‑up examination for undescended testes, feeling forced to ejaculate to end the assault. Shine denied wrongdoing during the trial but was found guilty of the two assaults; he was acquitted of four other charges. Lawyers argued that imprisonment would be fatal due to Shine's severe angina, heart stents and risk of dementia, and requested a suspended sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail would kill surgeon convicted of sexually assaulting teen patients, lawyers say. 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: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- 1964 and 1991 Other
- 2017-12-01 Publication
Why: He said he knew it was weird but didn't know if he could speak because he was "just a young boy". CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
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 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; After hearing details of the victim impact statements and medical records of the accused today, Judge Cormac Quinn said he would sentence Shine after lunch.
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