By Paul Healy - Irish Mirror - 24.08.2022
Notorious paedophile surgeon Michael Shine has praised a decision by the DPP to drop 25 cases against him as “the right thing.”
Confronted by us as it emerged that he won’t face further charges despite having more than 200 accusers, arrogant pervert Shine, 89, also claimed he should now have the right to “get on with my life.”
But also speaking to The Star last night, one of the men who accused Shine of sexual abuse and who was awaiting this decision by the DPP said he cannot ever move on with his life - and is shocked by the decision.
“I read in the media about the decision by the DPP. It’s an absolute mockery of the Irish justice system.
“Just when you think it can’t get any worse, then this bombshell,” the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
The Star contacted Shine over the phone following the news that he would face no further charges - and asked him what he had to say to this news.
“Well it’s the right thing anyway. That’s all I’ll say,” the unrepentant pervert said. “I’m not talking anymore.
“Of course I believe I should be able to get on with my life,” he said before hanging up.
The evil predator, who was released from prison in January of this year after serving three years for the sexual abuse of seven boys, is now a free man - and is living in a leafy suburb in Ballsbridge, South Co Dublin.
Some 100 survivors are still awaiting compensation from a settlement obtained from civil actions taken against Shine and the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM), which ran the hospital he worked in.
Last week it emerged that the DPP was not going to proceed with 25 new criminal cases against Shine. The RTE Investigates programme also reported that the DPP’s decision was based on a ruling made by the Court of Appeal last year.
The ruling came from a successful appeal by Shine regarding a separate case for the sexual abuse of 10 other patients, which was due to go to trial in 2021. Delivering her judgement, Ms Justice Kennedy concluded that, based on a number of factors, including Mr Shine’s age, his poor mental and physical health, and the historic nature of the allegations, it would be unjust to put him on trial.
The shamed former surgeon was jailed in 2019 for his horrific offences, and now his victims are calling for a public inquiry into how he was able to carry them out for so long. Shine worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, where he was able to abuse children for decades.
Speaking out after Shine was released earlier this year, one of his victim’s who waived his anonymity, spoke about what he had suffered at Shine’s hands.
Pat Cusack, who was one of the seven men Shine was convicted of abusing said: “I was 11 years old, a young, happy go-lucky boy, before my life was turned upside down at the hands of Mr Shine and the acts that he carried out on me.
“He handed me a life sentence of pain, hurt, turmoil, anguish and shame, that was all as a result of my innocence been taken away from me by a person who was in a position of trust in 1974, and the experiences that I went
through are forever burnt into my memory until the day I die and are as vivid today as the days that they were carried out on me”.
Pat said what he suffered has had a long-lasting negative effect on his life.
“I have had all my life experienced recurring memories, flashbacks, dreams and nightmares which triggered severe emotional stress. “For years I tried to block out the memories by whatever means I could; as a teenager sniffing solvents and later, taking illicit drugs - never for the high, always for the mind block and the numbing of the mental anguish. “As I got older, I drank heavy again all to block the pain,” he said. “I often was actively suicidal and indeed am not sure how I did not take that option on a few occasions because I could not get off the roller coaster of hurt pain and anguish and shame. I am thankful that I did not”.
He also said he shares feelings of anger with those victims who have not received their day in court, or any compensation.
“That is the only closure that they will get, and the delay is very hurtful for the victims,” “He has never said sorry, and I hope what he has done is never forgotten.”
Despite his conviction for indecent assault in 2019, Shine has never accepted his guilt and instead accused his victims of chasing compensation claims.
Last year, the Court of Appeal ruled that another trial involving 31 complainants couldn’t go ahead because of a two-year delay in informing him of the charges.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm.