The trial date of a retired consultant surgeon accused of indecently assaulting young men over a 26-year period will not be set until after the result of a High Court judicial review.
Dr Michael Shine (82) faces charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecent assault against 22 alleged victims. The earliest charges relate to events in 1964.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter again after she was informed that Dr Shine’s legal team is still awaiting judgement from the High Court and there is no indication as to when it will be delivered.
“This is a matter of some antiquity and there are complainants waiting for this to be dealt with,” Judge Ring remarked before she fixed January 14th next for mention.
She gave liberty to the State and defence to re-enter the case should judgement come back before that.
Dr Shine of Wellington House, Wellington Road, Dublin 4 is charged with 25 counts of indecent assault which allegedly occurred from 1964 until 1990, at Our Lady’s Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and at a clinic in the same county.
Dr Shine is on continuing bail and was excused from attending the court hearing and the next because of his age. The court previously heard that he does not always live in Ireland and must travel for these court hearings.
Dublin District Court previously heard that the retired surgeon 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.”