Govt agrees to Commission of Investigation into the activities of paedophile Michael Shine
The Government has agreed to work in close consultation with the victims of and survivors of prolific paedophile Michael Shine when it sets up a Commission of Investigation into the activities of the disgraced surgeon.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has published the report of the Scoping Exercise into Michael Shine by Mr Lorcan Staines Senior Counsel (SC). The Minister commissioned Mr Staines to conduct a scoping exercise into Michael Shine after consultation with Dignity4Patients, victims and survivors.
Shine was a surgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda over four decades from 1964 to 1995 and he also had a private practice.
He was convicted in 2017 and 2019 of abuse of a number of boys.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I welcome the publication of the report of the Scoping Exercise into Michael Shine.
"I want to acknowledge the bravery of the individuals who came forward to share their lived experience with the facilitator. It is clear that their experiences have shaped the report and its recommendations.
"I would like to express my thanks to Mr Lorcan Staines for the victim centered engagement he has had with the victims and survivors.
“I would also like to thank Dignity4Patients for their collaboration with Mr Staines throughout the process.”
The Government has accepted the recommendations of the report in full. Officials in the Department of Health will work in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the victims and survivors on drafting the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed Commission of Investigation. The final ToR will be submitted for Government approval.
The Government had agreed on 26th November 2025 to a time bound scoping exercise into Michael Shine to be undertaken by an independent person. This arose after consultation with Dignity4Patients.
The proposed scoping exercise was to consider the existing information (previous reports and court cases); the information and request from D4P; the questions of publication of the Drogheda Review (Smyth) report; and to make recommendations for an appropriate and bespoke response.
The Minister for Health appointed Mr Lorcan Staines as the independent facilitator for the Scoping Exercise and he commenced his work on 3rd March 2026. The exercise ran for up to 16 weeks.
East Meath TD and Minister Thomas Byrne TD welcomed the publication of the report of the Scoping Exercise into Michael Shine and acknowledged the "courage of the victims and survivors who came forward to share their experiences. Their voices have been central to this process and must remain at the heart of the next steps."
"I also want to thank Dignity4Patients for its continued advocacy and Mr Staines for his careful and victim-centred approach throughout the scoping exercise."
"The proposed Commission of Investigation is an important step towards ensuring a full examination of these matters and delivering answers for victims and survivors."