Court adjourns indecent assault case against consultant until October
A retired consultant surgeon accused of indecently assaulting young males over a 26-year period faces charges in relation to six new complainants.
Dr Michael Shine (aged 80) now faces charges of indecent assault against 22 alleged victims when he stands trial sometime in 2014.
He was charged in the District Court last July with 25 counts concerning 16 young males.
Today, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard six new complainants were added to the indictment last week.
Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC asked for a lengthy adjournment because of the large amount of evidence in the case. He also said that it is likely the defence will take Judicial Review proceedings against the case in the High Court. Any criminal trial would have to await its outcome.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring expressed annoyance at delaying the matter for so long and noted that these matters are already old. The earliest charges relate to events in 1964.
She said a trial is now not likely to start before October 2014.
Mr Hartnett said Dr Shine has a right to time to receive disclosure of evidence and that he shouldn’t be punished for the State’s previous delay in bringing the case.
Judge Ring asked why a trial date couldn’t be fixed for early 2014 while the other matters run their course. Counsel responded that they want to have all the disclosure “before we arrange ourselves.”
Prosecuting counsel Melanie Greally BL said it will “optimistically” take six weeks to complete disclosure.
The judge adjourned the case until October this year for an update on the disclosure process. Dr Shine left the court on continuing bail.
Dr Shine of Wellington House, Wellington Road, Dublin 4 is charged with 25 counts of indecent assault which allegedly occurred from 1964 until 1990, at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth and at a clinic in the same county.
Dublin District Court previously heard that the retired surgeon replied “not guilty” after caution when 24 of the charges were put to him. His response to one other charge was: “Not guilty, I was not in Ireland at the time.”
