Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am requesting a debate with the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, on the need for a commission of investigation for victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As of today, there are 363 known victims and survivors of Michael Shine, the former surgeon and convicted sexual offender who abused young boys, teenagers and young men over a 30-year period in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. I met last week with some of the victims and survivors and they say they have had piecemeal justice. They have lived through decades of lengthy civil cases and have seen him receive a criminal conviction and a sentence of four years, of which he served three years. Despite reports of sexual abuse first made in the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. Shine continued to practice, having access to young boys in the hospital, in his private practice and in a local orphanage.His victims feel that there has been no full and effective statutory investigation into who knew of the sexual abuse, when they knew and how it was allowed to take place. Last year, exhausted from lobbying, six men namely, Gerard Murray, Larry Torris, Peter O'Connor, Ian Russell, Ian Armstrong and Cianan Murray, felt they had no option but to go public and tell their upsetting stories of how they were sexually abused by Michael Shine, to encourage Government action. In response, then Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, prior to the election late last year, said that action would be taken in relation to this "vile paedophile" within the lifetime of this Government.

As we speak, no definitive steps have been taken to address this issue. In the meantime, these men, some of whom I met last week, and hundreds more, continue to live with the trauma of their experiences and many questions are unanswered. Victims and survivors are understandably sceptical but are still very hopeful about whether they will ever get the answers they need through an open and thorough commission of investigation. At this juncture, a debate with Minister for Justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, would be a crucial step in rebuilding trust and showing a commitment to meaningful action on a commission of investigation.