Court refuses to release transcripts from Michael Shine sex offender trials
Michael Shine, a 93-year-old man, was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys during his work at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, where he served from 1964 to 1995. He was first charged in 1996, acquitted in 2003, and then convicted in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants out of 33 alleged injured parties. In March 2026, Senior counsel Lorcan Staines began work as independent facilitator for a government-approved scoping exercise into how the case was handled. On 22 June 2026, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patricia Ryan refused to release the trial transcripts to Staines but permitted release of the indictments on a limited basis.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Jun
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Shine was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys in the course of his work at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, where he served from 1964 until 1995.
- When
- In March 1995 the chief executive of the hospital was informed of a complaint of abuse, and Shine took leave and retired later that year.
- Shine was first charged in 1996 but the case only came to trial in 2003 after delays caused by legal challenges.
- In court
- Shine was acquitted in 2003 but convicted in trials in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants out of 33 alleged injured parties.
- On 22 June 2026, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patricia Ryan refused to release the trial transcripts to Staines but permitted release of the indictments on a limited basis.
- Where
- Shine, aged 93, has an address in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
- Other details
- Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the Government approved a time-bound independent scoping exercise into how the case was handled.
- Senior counsel Lorcan Staines began work as independent facilitator in March 2026 within a 16-week time frame.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShine was convicted after three criminal trials of sexually assaulting young boys in the course of his work. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShine took leave while the complaint was addressed and retired later that year. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cases involved 33 alleged injured parties. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMichael Shine worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, from 1964 until 1995. (irishtimes.com)
- whereShine, aged 93, has an address in Ballsbridge, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenIn March 1995, the chief executive of the hospital was informed of a complaint of abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- whenShine was first charged in 1996 but the case only came to trial in 2003. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShine was acquitted in 2003 but convicted in trials in 2017 and 2019 of assaulting nine complainants. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe application was made at a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday before Judge Patricia Ryan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge told Staines the court could not go against Supreme Court precedent on release of transcripts. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIn a second application, the judge allowed release of the indictments on a limited basis. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMinister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the Government approved a time-bound independent scoping exercise. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSenior counsel Lorcan Staines began work as independent facilitator in March within a 16-week time frame. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jun2026Court refuses to release transcripts from trials of sex offender Michael Shine
Reports on a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing where Judge Patricia Ryan refused to release trial transcripts for the Shine scoping exercise but permitted release of indictments on a limited basis.
convicted, Michael Shine, 93, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Shine