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THE TAOISEACH HAS said the Government will discuss calls for a public inquiry into the sexual abuse of children by “prolific abuser” Michael Shine.
Simon Harris said that Shine is a “vile paedophile” who inflicted “significant horror” on his victims during his career as a surgeon.
It comes as a victims’ group launches a legal campaign for the full truth behind how Shine allegedly abused hundreds of children.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of a number of victims waiving their anonymity for the first time, the Taoiseach told The Journal that the Government will “take stock” of the case and outline what “actions are most appropriate” in light of “very strong comments” by victims today.
“Michael Shine is a vile paedophile, a prolific abuser who has brought pain and misery to many. His victims today have spoke with courage and in a vivid manner and I want to thank them for that,” Harris said while in Listowel, Co Kerry today.
“I think their intervention is really important.”
As victims of Michael Shine waive their anonymity for the first time, the Taoiseach says the Govt will ‘take stock’ of the case and discuss calls for an inquiry.
— Eoghan Dalton (@EoghanDalton) August 19, 2024
Simon Harris told @thejournal_ie that Shine is a ‘vile paedophile’ who inflicted ‘significant horror’ on his victims pic.twitter.com/Y5V7M4haya
The Fine Gael leader added that the case centres around children who experienced “significant horror and abuse” at the hands of Shine.
Many of Shine’s victims were treated by him at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, where he began working as a senior registrar in 1964 and was quickly promoted to consultant in 1968, staying at the hospital until 1995.
Survivors claim that the Medical Missionaries of Mary religious order that oversaw the hospital was aware of the abuse and allowed it to continue for decades.
To date, more than 200 victims have settled civil claims against the Medical Missionaries of Mary. Many of the men were instructed to sign non-disclosure agreements, which meant that they could not talk to or support one another as they tried to recover from the trauma.
Shine was found guilty of assaults against nine boys at two trials, in 2017 and 2019, but campaigners believe there are many more survivors.
The former surgeon, now 93, is a free man after serving just three years in prison.
Phoenix Law, a leading human rights law firm that has previously represented a number of victims affected by the Stardust fire and the Bill Kenneally case, has announced that it is acting for the victims’ group.
They are seeking a Commission of Investigation to probe claims that health and religious authorities failed to stop the abuse.
When speaking today at the opening of a new bypass in Listowel, Co Kerry, Harris said that he was aware that a number of civil and criminal court proceedings have taken place against Shine.
“I’m conscious there have been reports and consideration given by government departments but in light of the very strong comments by the victims of Shine today, Government will no doubt reflect on this and see what action is most appropriate,” the Taoiseach said.
Harris added that he understands why there is pain and upset amongst victims over how their campaign has been met by the State.
Some victims have been blocked from accessing various documents about Shine and even their own transcripts arising from interviews about their abuse.
One report, carried out in 2009 by a High Court judge, sits unpublished due to a legal technicality over who actually owns the report.
Shine wasn’t struck off the Irish Medical Council’s register until 2008, 13 years after the first allegation was made public.
Harris acknowledged that some court processes can “cut across” requests, particularly where criminal cases are underway or subject to investigation.
He added that the government and other organisations need to take a “victim-centred” approach in how they handle the case and allegations made by the many involved.
With reporting by Saoirse McGarrigle
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The victims have up their anonymity, give them the public inquiry. Show them respect.
Well let’s see, his reputation for talking and empathy doesn’t quite match results, in addition all of these crimes and cover ups historically happened under FG and FF govts being in power and while dealing with them decades later is better than nothing coming out with state apologies and compensation packages for failures of FFG lead govts makes you wonder what are they covering up now to be dealt with in 30 years when they are long retired. We mustn’t forget that failures of the”State” and apologies on behalf of the “State” diminishes the responsibility that the govt of the day should be taking, they were the people in charge who let it happen or at the very least created the conditions for it to occur.
More pedoz covered for and protected by successive Fg/Fg governments. For how many decades now? It almost makes you wonder what else they’ve tried sweeping under the carpet. There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s senior politicians themselves involved within this type degenerate behaviour
@Billy Murphy: There was plenty of abuse covered up under SF but nothing done about it
@Anne O’Reilly: I’m aware of a couple of cases where the offenders were brought to court (Gerry Adams brother was involved I think) but I’m not aware of plenty of incidents as you put it, imm also not aware of SF being in power and overseeing policies with regard to oversight of vulnerable children. I also don’t think you should be using the comments section on this very important issue to try and score political points, it’s not appropriate and disrespectful to the victims.
Nothing to do with this article but Ireland need to stop mass migration and refugees
@Mojo: How can Ireland possibly stop mass migration? There are more people on the move than ever before
A lot more like shine coming over the border every day with the blessings of ffg
How many pedos has harris and his mob let into Ireland
@Sean O: and varadkar
@Sean O: Why would you even think that, let alone post it. Your comment would not be out of place in Nazi Germany. Take your hate elsewhere
@SYaxJ2Ts: He is still correct. Also you must be closer to a Nazi than him since you love to Palestine.
@SYaxJ2Ts: Watch the BBC documentary “last whites of the east end” it’s on YouTube Kevin. Shows how quickly communities can be decimated.
@Freda Peeple: no thanks. I’m fully aware thanks – I lived in Brixton for 6 years during the 90’s so I’m up to speed with multi-cultural London. And anyway, I’m sure that the doc would not suggest what the original poster suggested, so do try and stick to the subject
@Sean O: Unless the government bans those that are from that breeding ground for these perverts and deviants – Christianity – from ever holding positions of authority we will continue to find more and more and more of such abuse from among that protected group.
You see, they are in the decision-making levels of the Civil Service, and protect their own, making sure that there is no meaningful accountability – obstructing any real investigation, any real possibility of discovering the full truth. The Law is also infested with these types, also protecting their own.
They also ensure that others of the same kind are coming up behind them.
There needs to be a clearout of the decision-making levels of the Civil Service.
@SYaxJ2Ts: Well mr self righteous the whole point of the doc is the opposite of multi culture, it turned into monoculture. But you know everything because you lived somewhere 30 years ago.
@Freda Peeple: it bears no relation to the original post that I responded to. So I have no idea why you would tell me about this doc in the first place. Unless of course you have an agenda related to asylum seekers. So less of the faux outrage
@Sean O: MAPs Sean please! Minor Attracted Persons.
If he so worried about this. Why does he keep letting the likes of him into our country to camp at the cancel in dublin
@David Busher: Yes – like the Irish in 19th century N. America or Britain.
Shame on you. Go read some history.
@Peter J. O’Connor: so how many of these lovely people will you be putting up in your house…1 maybe 2…or will we leave them in a tents outside your door. .grow up …they are welcome if they have a need to be here.. 90% of these don’t because they have been in safe County’s before getting here…your been scammed by them …and they make it more difficult for those who need our help…your part of this problem blind fool . …
Government might argue it is not in the public interest to have a public enquiry like they did with the call for a public enquiry into the murder of Denis Donaldson. No wait, they’ll give an enquiry if no State collusion is involved.
More empty promises, look his lips are moving at 100mph, he will talk about everything, promise everything & move on to the next subject, where he will do the same again, nothing ever done. Let’s not forget his hollow empty promises to Children, yes children with Scoliosis. He is bamboozling people with his machine gun mouth & moving at a rate of knots, before he has to answer any real questions. He is currently trying to end freedom of speech & freedom of expression, we will soon be no better than Russia. Maybe actually do something for once & maybe have a word with your colleague ROG about why he won’t extend the Mother & Baby homes redress scheme if you really pretend you care.
Ffg and Catholic Church should have been gone from irish society 20 years ago But some irlsh citizens have an addiction to vile abuse and lying
@Robert Halvey: What about Muhammad and those who worship him and Sharia Law. There are thousands of them here in Ireland.
Would a 52 year old man who married a 6yrs old child and had sex with her at 9yrs old be classed as a pedophile?
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