Michael Shine, and the Dark Shadows who Covered up his Abuse, were never Named??

The latest developments regarding Michael Shine, the retired Irish consultant surgeon and convicted sex offender, center on ongoing calls for accountability and investigations into his decades-long abuse of patients (primarily young boys) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and his private clinics .Michael Shine (now in his mid-90s, reported as 93 in recent coverage) was convicted in two trials (2017 and 2019) of indecently and sexually assaulting nine boys between the 1970s and 1990s. He served three years of a four-year prison sentence and was released around 2022. He has consistently denied the abuse, and many additional allegations (with over 300 victims claiming abuse spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s) did not result in further prosecutions—some due to delays, his age/health, or procedural issues.Key recent updates include:

• In April 2025, six new victims came forward since the start of the year, some as young as four at the time of the alleged abuse. Victims and the support group Dignity4Patients continue pushing for answers about how Shine was able to offend for so long, including alleged cover-ups by authorities, the hospital (run by the Medical Missionaries of Mary), and others.
• In August 2024, victims spoke out publicly for the first time in interviews, describing the abuse as an “open secret” and renewing demands for a full Commission of Investigation (or public inquiry) into Shine’s actions and institutional failings.
• Most notably, in November 2025, the Irish Government announced a 16-week “scoping exercise” (an independent review) to assess the issues raised by victims and Dignity4Patients. This could lay the groundwork for a formal statutory inquiry. The move followed advocacy, including meetings with government figures, and was welcomed by the victims’ group as a step toward truth and preventing future failures.

There are no indications that Shine has faced new criminal charges recently, and due to his age and health, he has been deemed unfit for further trials in some instances. Victims’ advocates describe him as one of Ireland’s most prolific abusers (sometimes compared to Jimmy Savile), with calls emphasizing systemic cover-ups over many years. For context, this refers to the Irish doctor (not the unrelated U.S. Olympic athlete Mike Shine or others with the same name). Coverage remains focused on justice, healing, and institutional accountability rather than new abuse allegations. If you’re seeking more details on a specific aspect or a different Michael Shine, feel free to clarify!