INQUIRY CALLS

Notorious paedophile doctor branded ‘Ireland’s Jimmy Savile’ has over 300 victims as demands for full public inquiry

Shine was freed from prison in February 2022

• Published: 17:04, 22 Feb 2024

PAEDO Dr Michael Shine was today branded “Ireland’s Jimmy Savile”.

The Dignity4Patients group represents over 300 people who allege they were abused by the 90-year-old medic.

And on the second ­anniversary of his release from jail they demanded a full public inquiry into the creep.

Shine was freed from prison in February 2022 after serving three-quarters of a four-year ­sentence for sexually assaulting a handful of children.

But he’s never been prosecuted for abusing ­hundreds of others while working for decades as a surgeon in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth.

Dignity4Patients CEO Adrienne Reilly claimed: Adrienne Reilly claimed: “Remember Michael Shine is Ireland’s Jimmy Savile.

“When his victims reported what happened they were told they were the only one and not believed, just like the Postmasters scandal in Britain.

“We are calling on the Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, the Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly and Finance Minister Michael McGrath to agree a way forward on a public inquiry into the sexual abuse of the largest paedophile and abuser of hundreds of mostly young boys, in the history of the state.

“It will be two years tomorrow since he was released in a covert manner from the Midlands Prison without having to face his victims.

“Many of them are still waiting for justice and can not understand while they are being ignored.

“Today is Victims of Crime Day and we will see and hear statements from politicians in relation to their commitment to the victims of crime.

“However, they need to actually listen to victims and be serious in their commitment to provide proper, real and effective accountable justice such as the establishment of a public inquiry for our victims.”

She urged the Government “to agree a way forward on a public inquiry into the sexual abuse of the largest paedophile and abuser of ­hundreds of mostly young boys, in the history of the State”.

Ms Reilly said many of Shine’s victims “are still waiting for ­justice and can not understand while they are being ignored”. Only seven of the victims with the Dignity4Patients group have had their day in court.

But 200 have secured civil ­settlements for as little as €20,000 on average and were requested to sign non-disclosure agreements.

And another 46 were refused criminal prosecutions for reasons including Shine’s age and health.

Since his release Shine has been living in Dublin city centre and a number of his victims have bumped into the predator.