A former consultant surgeon accused of indecently assaulting 16 young males over a 26-year period was served with a book of evidence yesterday and returned for trial.
Michael Shine (80), Wellington Road, Dublin, was charged in July with 25 counts of indecent assault which allegedly occurred from 1964 until 1990, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, and at a clinic in the same county.
Dublin District Court had heard he 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.”
Det Garda Sgt Nicholas Kelly had said the DPP had directed Mr Shine was to face a Circuit Court trial, meaning his case would go before a judge and jury. A State solicitor had also explained earlier: “It is a very large case. There are eight volumes of files, 16 injured parties are referred to in the book of evidence.”
Yesterday Mr Shine appeared again at Dublin District Court.
After the book of evidence was handed over, Judge Cormac Dunne told Mr Shine that if he intended to rely on the defence of alibi, he must notify the prosecution within 14 days and furnish the relevant names and addresses.
Mr Shine said he understood the alibi caution. Judge Dunne then made an order sending him forward for trial. The case will next be listed during the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court’s current term. The judge also informed him that bail terms set earlier would sustain until his trial.