Ireland Court refuses release of transcripts in Michael Shine case
Michael Shine worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth, from 1964 until 1995 and was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys in the course of his work. In March 1995 the hospital's chief executive was told of a complaint of abuse, Shine took leave while it was addressed, and he retired later that year. He was first charged in 1996, the case came to trial in 2003 after delays from legal challenges by his lawyers, and he was acquitted in the first of those trials that year, before later being convicted in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants and receiving a number of custodial sentences. In a ruling reported on 23 June 2026, Judge Patricia Ryan refused Lorcan Staines's application for release of the trial transcripts, though she released the indictments on a limited basis, and said he could apply again if the 33 alleged injured parties had been notified. Staines said his report on the Government-approved scoping exercise is due next Wednesday.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Shine was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys in the course of his work.
- Where
- Shine worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth, from 1964 until 1995.
- Other details
- In March 1995 the hospital's chief executive was told of a complaint of abuse, and Shine took leave while it was addressed and retired later that year.
- Staines said his report on the scoping exercise is due next Wednesday.
- Charges
- Shine was first charged in 1996, but the case only came to trial in 2003 after delays from legal challenges by his lawyers.
- In court
- Shine was acquitted in the first of the three trials in 2003.
- Shine was convicted in trials in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants.
- Lorcan Staines applied to Judge Patricia Ryan for release of transcripts of the three criminal trials.
- The DPP's counsel said the cases involved 33 alleged injured parties.
- Judge Ryan said the court could not go against Supreme Court precedent, and refused release of the transcripts.
- Judge Ryan released the indictments on a limited basis so Staines could make inquiries, and said he could apply again if the 33 people had been notified.
- Sentence
- Shine received a number of custodial sentences.
- Investigation
- The Government approved a time-bound independent scoping exercise into the Shine case.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShine was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys in the course of his work. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatShine was convicted in trials in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereShine worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 until 1995. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe Government approved a time-bound independent scoping exercise into the Shine case. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeShine was first charged in 1996, but the case only came to trial in 2003 after delays from legal challenges by his lawyers. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtShine was acquitted in the first of those trials in 2003. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtLorcan Staines applied to Judge Patricia Ryan for release of transcripts of the three criminal trials. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe DPP's counsel said the cases involved 33 alleged injured parties. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Ryan said the court could not go against Supreme Court precedent. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Ryan said Staines could apply again if the 33 people had been notified. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Ryan released the indictments on a limited basis so Staines could make inquiries. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceShine received a number of custodial sentences. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherIn March 1995 the hospital's chief executive was told of a complaint of abuse, and Shine took leave while it was addressed and retired later that year. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherStaines said his report on the scoping exercise is due next Wednesday. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jun2026Court refuses to release trial transcripts of notorious sex offender Michael Shine
Reports a court application for release of transcripts and indictments from Michael Shine's trials, which ran in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article covers Shine's convictions, the scoping exercise, and the DPP's position on the application.
convicted, Michael Shine, 93, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Shine