By Ruth O'Connell - LMFM News - 19/08/2024 - [IRELAND] Dignity4Patients is seeking a Commission of Investigation similar to the South East Commission on basketball coach Bill Kenneally
A human rights law firm is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Justice to discuss holding a public inquiry into disgraced surgeon and paedophile Michael Shine.
Phoenix Law is representing Dignity4Patients, who are seeking a Commission of Investigation to probe claims that health and religious authorities failed to stop the abuse.
Hundreds of men claim that they were abused by the now 93 year old who served three years in prison for abusing boys when he worked in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and from a private clinic in Drogheda.
Only nine of the almost 350 men supported by Dignity4Patients have seen a successful prosecution brought against Michael Shine.
Four of his victims have been speaking exclusively to The Journal, including 53 year old Gerard Murray - who says he was sexually abused by Shine when he was just four years old:
"An open public commission of inquiry is the only way I think I'll get justice. It's the only way. There's too many secrets being buried, there's too many secrets being blocked. There's too many secrets being hidden.
People have questions to answer. You know, you can't hide forever. Because my abuse by Michael Shine is with me every single day. It affects who I am to this day."
Diarmuid Brecknell of Phoenix Law has written to the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee seeking an immediate meeting to discuss the case.
The law firm represented the families of the victims of the Stardust tragedy at the recent inquest and also led at the Commission of Investigation examining how allegations of abuse carried out by basketball coach Bill Kenneally were handled.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm.