Ireland Reporter's account of Michael Shine's 2019 sentencing and later interview
Michael Shine was convicted of sexually assaulting seven boys over three decades. Pat Cusack says Shine abused him in 1974, when he was an 11-year-old patient. On 23 February 2019 at the Central Criminal Courts in Dublin, Shine was sentenced to four years in prison in a hearing that lasted five minutes, and the judge, Martin Nolan, said Shine showed no remorse during the four-week trial. In a 2025 interview at his Ballsbridge apartment, Shine told the reporter that his accusers were only after his money and that he had treated Cusack when he was 11 and cured him. A July 2026 retrospective article reports that the government has announced an inquiry and that a victim's account will follow.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Pat Cusack says Michael Shine abused him in 1974, when Cusack was an 11-year-old patient.
- Charges
- Michael Shine was convicted of sexually assaulting seven boys over three decades.
- Where
- Shine's sentencing hearing was held at the Central Criminal Courts in Dublin.
- The reporter interviewed Shine in 2025 at his apartment in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
- When
- The sentencing hearing took place on 23 February 2019 and was attended by the reporter.
- In court
- Judge Martin Nolan said Shine showed no expression of remorse during the four-week trial.
- The sentencing hearing lasted five minutes.
- Sentence
- Michael Shine was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Other details
- Shine claimed the men who accused him were only after his money.
- Shine claimed he had treated Pat Cusack when Cusack was 11 and had cured him.
- The July 2026 article says a victim's account will follow.
- Investigation
- A July 2026 retrospective article reports that the government has announced an inquiry.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPat Cusack was abused by Shine in 1974 when he was an 11-year-old patient. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeShine was convicted of sexually assaulting seven boys over three decades. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing was attended by the reporter on 23 February 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said Shine showed no expression of remorse during the four-week trial. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing lasted five minutes. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMichael Shine was sentenced to four years in prison. (thejournal.ie)
- otherShine claimed the men who accused him were only after his money. (thejournal.ie)
- otherShine claimed he had treated Pat Cusack when he was 11 and had cured him. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe reporter interviewed Shine at his Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 apartment. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Saoirse McGarrigle: The day I confronted paedophile Michael Shine
Retrospective first-person piece on the 2019 sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Courts and a 2025 interview with Shine at his Ballsbridge apartment. It says Shine claimed his accusers were motivated by money and that he had treated and cured one victim. It also says a victim's account will follow and that the government has announced an inquiry.
convicted, Michael Shine, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Shinevictim, Pat Cusack, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Cusack