Paedophile surgeon Michael Shine has praised a decision by the DPP to drop 25 cases against him as “the right thing”.
Dublin Live confronted the predator as it emerged he won’t face further charges despite having more than 200 accusers. Arrogant pervert Shine, 89, also claimed he should now have the right to “get on with my life”.
But last night, one of the men who accused Shine of sexual abuse and who was awaiting this decision by the DPP, said he cannot ever move on with his life. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, added: “I read in the media about the decision by the DPP.
Read more: Pervert Doctor living in Ballsbridge shamelessly visits town where he sexually abused over 200 kids
“It’s an absolute mockery of the Irish justice system. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, then this bombshell.”
Dublin Live contacted Shine for his reaction to the news he will not face further charges. The unrepentant pervert responded: “Well it’s the right thing anyway. That’s all I’ll say. I’m not talking anymore.”
Before hanging up, he said: “Of course I believe I should be able to get on with my life.” The evil predator was released from prison in January after serving three years for the sexual abuse of seven boys.
He is said to be living in a leafy suburb in Ballsbridge, South Dublin. Some 100 survivors are still awaiting compensation from a settlement obtained from civil actions taken against Shine and the Medical Missionaries of Mary, which ran the hospital in Co Louth where he worked.
Last week it emerged the DPP was not going to proceed with 25 new criminal cases against Shine. The RTE Investigates programme also reported that decision was based on a ruling delivered by the Court of Appeal last year.
It came from a successful appeal by Shine regarding a separate case for the sexual abuse of 10 other patients, which was due to go to trial last year. Delivering her judgment, Ms Justice Kennedy concluded that, based on a number of factors, including Shine’s age, his poor mental and physical health and the historic nature of the allegations, it would be unjust to put him on trial.
Read more: Victim of serial paedophile Michael Shine saw freed predator on O'Connell Street
The shamed former surgeon was jailed in 2019 and his victims are demanding a public inquiry into how he was able to carry out his crimes for so long with being detected. Shine worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he abused children for decades. Speaking out after Shine was released one of his victims, who waived his anonymity, spoke about what he had suffered at Shine’s hands.
Pat Cusack, who was one of the seven men Shine was convicted of abusing, said: “I was 11 years old, a young, happy-go-lucky boy, before my life was turned upside down at the hands of Mr Shine and the acts that he carried out on me. He handed me a life sentence of pain, hurt, turmoil, anguish and shame, that was all as a result of my innocence been taken away from me by a person who was in a position of trust in 1974.
“The experiences that I went through are forever burnt into my memory until the day I die. They are as vivid today as the days they were carried out on me.”
Pat added what he suffered has had a long-lasting negative effect on his life. He continued: “I have had all my life experienced recurring memories, flashbacks, dreams and nightmares which have triggered severe emotional stress. Often I was actively suicidal and indeed am not sure how I did not take that option on a few occasions because I could not get off the roller coaster of hurt pain and anguish and shame. I am thankful that I did not.”
Despite his conviction for indecent assault in 2019, Shine has never accepted his guilt and accused his victims of chasing compensation claims. In total, gardai have dealt with more than 200 complaints against the pervert and at one stage there were 218 civil cases against him.
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