Courts / Louth / Report

Surgeon's victim handed "a life sentence of pain"

Date
2019-02-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Drogheda

County
Louth

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, was found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges and one sexual assault charge committed during medical examinations between 1971 and 1992. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts. Victim Patrick Cusack, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as a "life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame," noting he had not slept properly for 45 years until the verdict. Two other victims also testified that Shine showed no understanding of his actions and that the abuse had eroded their trust in people. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, with Shine remanded on continuing bail. No sentencing outcome was provided in the article.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Surgeon's victim handed "a life sentence of pain". Procedural stage: sentence

When:

1971 and 1992 Incident
1971 to 1988 Incident
2019-02-22 Publication

Case subjects

Michael Shine

Defendant

Outcome: Reading his victim impact statement today in court, Patrick Cusack (56), who waived his right to anonymity, said Shine had handed him "a life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame". Shine has three previous convictions for indecent assault relating to two complainants who were both aged 15 in 1975; he was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for these in late 2017.; Judge Martin Nolan remanded Shine on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for sentencing to next Monday.