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A VICTIM OF Michael Shine has revealed that he received abusive phone calls from angry supporters of the former surgeon after he reported being sexually assaulted.
Cianan Murray, 68, said that Shine was considered “a God”, even after patients began coming forward to gardaí about sordid attacks while under his care.
The father of two, from Duleek, County Meath, is one of a number of victims who yesterday launched a fresh campaign to urge the Minister for Justice to set up a Commission of Investigation.
Speaking to The Journal, he said: “I first made my statement in 1995 and I never got justice.”
The DPP did not recommend charges in relation to Cianan’s case. He says this decision has haunted him for more than 29 years. He believes that he was failed by the justice system.
Yesterday, the Taoiseach confirmed the government is reviewing the case and will discuss what “actions are next appropriate in light of very strong comments by victims”.
Cianan has been prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping tablets since 1995 and the experience of telling gardaí about the abuse and failing to get justice was traumatising.
Adding to the hurt, he remembers receiving disturbing calls from supporters of the former surgeon.
“We had some people ringing to complain and say what a wonderful man Shine was and how dare we say anything bad about him. There were a lot of abusive calls from supporters of Shine.”
It is now almost three decades since Cianan made a statement about the crimes, but he is still “waiting for justice”.
Cianan is one of a core group of individuals who have advocated for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Shine abuse case – previously speaking of his experience and urging others to come forward.
At one point he operated a helpline and recalls receiving distressing phone calls, including from some victims who were suicidal.
“I’d get these phone calls. People didn’t want their name out there. It was very sad listening to these stories.
“My wife was in charge of the phone at one stage. She received a call from a man one night and he was about to attempt suicide and she talked him out of it.
“We meet this man now regularly around the town and he thanks her every time he sees her.”
Cianan says he was abused by Michael Shine in 1972.
“I was 16 and I was in hospital having stitches removed from my eye. Shine came in and examined me.
“He said that I looked a little run down and maybe I should come down to his surgery in Fair Street the following Saturday morning.
“I told my mother and father and they were thrilled that someone like Shine would take an interest in me. He was a God in Drogheda.
“I went to him on that Saturday morning and that was where the abuse occurred.”
He never told his parents what happened, but in 1995 he made a criminal complaint.
On the day that he spoke to The Journal he had just received from An Garda Síochána a copy of his original handwritten statement.
In the event that a public inquiry is established, documents such as Cianan’s statement could be relevant to the work of the commission.
Cianan insists that a Commission of Investigation should examine several different agencies including the Medical Missionaries of Mary and the former North Eastern Health Board.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly also raised the question yesterday if the decision to not publish a 2009/2010 report into the abuse should be revisited.
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Philippines will sort them out in no time
How can other religions move to countries and not cause havoc and mayhem? Can you imagine scientologists blowing up and shooting innocent people? They’d be shut down in a heartbeat so why is the religion of peace tolerated? I’ll tell you why. You’d get labeled a racist by people who hate labels. Can you imagine Jews fighting for Nazi rights just as liberals fight for Islam. This is what happens when you get brainwashed people who swallow mainstream media with an agenda. Wonder why there are no bombings in places like Japan? A tiny Muslim population that’s why. World leaders in common sense and the blindingly obvious.
@SteveW: perhaps tolerated because it is not responsible, it is the social outcast(s) who islamized their radical view, Japan is not immune but western media coverage is more intense here and gives account in English language, you won’t see CNN Japan being tuned into when something happens in Tokyo or anywhere else for that matter
Red not being funny here but what on earth has media coverage or speaking English got to do with anything? What about other countries that have to put up with these large minority”outcasts” you’re defending? Burma, Kashmir, China, Thailand, Kenya, Ceychnya, Phillipines to name a few. And that’s not including Europe and US.
@Red Marauder: it seems like every country islam has settled in there is serious terrorism problem now south Philippines is exploding now into serious violence. south sudan south Thailand nearly all of Africa all across middle east there is major wars going … after watching primtime on RTE tonight on Islamic extremists i am becoming very fearful for my family future and myself and like all other irish people throughout the island of Ireland…..
@Bobby wilson: And that was on RTE , who had an article about everyones favorite troll Katie Hopkins being sacked for saying there is a problem with islam . https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/0526/878159-katie-hopkins/
@SteveW: it is simple to install fear you need widespread coverage, so they choose targets which will be in the news, it is repeated everytime, a mall, a concert, twin towers etc, the density of media coverage is highest in Western countries where English is universal
@Remy: everyone can quote the Koran, there is no central regulation, you not need to be a scholar for that, now how you sell it or interpret it is different, there are far more peaceful Muslims than what you hear about in the news
@Red Marauder: ”there are far more peaceful Muslims than what you hear about in the news” . Phew ! Thank god you said that , I was thinking it was the 75% were radical , Thank heavens it’s only the other 25% .
doing some basic math, we get that about 006625% not even close to your estimates
@SteveW: 110%
@Remy: people like you and your ilk are just part of the problem
”Tis gonna be a red Ramadan
This atrocity and outrage will be handled in the Phillipines but it will scare the wits out of us Irish and get us highly exercised.
Many Irish live in fear and terror although we are far from a prime target.
@Tony Daly: I actually can’t think of anyone I know who lives in fear of an ISIS attack. I do know plenty who agree we should do our bit to help those trying to escape the terror of these animals while also protecting ourselves by having proper checks on those entering our country.
@Tony Daly: As far I’m aware no one lives in fear of isis in Ireland , but it’s only right that we examine it’s core ideology . Prime time has a segment on isis in Ireland , which obviously doesn’t exist . Whaaaatt !
@Jane: I am taking lots of the alarmist comments at face value. It could be just posturing of course but after each atrocity the alarmism expressed is voluble and even hysterical.
@Ken Hayden: of course it may just be intentional alarmism and deliberate exaggeration of threat on the part of those who comment on Ireland as a target of ISIS.
I rember the hysterical and emotive comments after previous outrages in Europe predicting Ireland as the next target.
It may just be playing up by those who wish to stir up fear and hate or else the Irish are an especially timid nation.
@Tony Daly: And of course , it just might not be deliberate exaggeration .
It cannot be said enough , not all muslims are terrorists , but in among them , there are people who can be , and are radicalized . Denying there is no threat is not a solution .
@Tony Daly: it’s not fear. Tony or alarmist comments. It’s frustration that the empty vessels that make the most noise ie a small minority of do Gooders that get listened to because they shout racist and the pure frustration at the apologists that are so mind numbingly stupid that they get listened to by policy makers
@Tony Daly: why is their a constant down playing on all this Islamic terrorism across the globe by far left supporters by making out its western countries fault for making Islamic people angry.. Their is attacks on churches in Egypt /Nigeria /Pakistan /Iraq /Syria and many many more soon their will be no more Christians in the middle east except Israel…..
@Bobby wilson: 6 Things that cause islamic terrorism .
Intolerance .
Unemployment .
Poor quality council housing .
Not enough diversity on the BBC .
Islamophobic tweets .
Katie Hopkins .
Things that don’t cause islamic terrorism .
The ancient holy book which promises a blissful eternity in the afterlife for anyone who wages deadly jihad against the infidel .
I’m here in Manila. The chief of cops is on tv saying it was some lad trying to rob chips from the casino. Very much doubt it was ISIS related.
@Richie Kennedy: isis claimed responsibility?
@Jackson Bollovks: When the chips are down .
@Richie Kennedy: any more info Richie? My mum is on Negros at the moment but flying to Manila on Saturday to head home Sunday. Slightly concerned
@Maria ✏️: I’m living in Makati Maria, a city in Metro Manila. No updates but nothing to be concerned about. Might be some heightened security at the airport which is a good thing.
@Maria ✏️: Flights are delayed alright so she could miss a connection. The security in the airport is always tight so I wouldn’t worry too much. It seems to have been a lone gunman trying to steal gambling chips.
@Jackson Bollovks: I’d say they would claim responsibility for anything to sow fear. Doesn’t appear to be a terrorism incident based on the information available.
Casino Royal-Q’aeda
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