A retired consultant surgeon is to stand trial accused of indecently assaulting 16 young males over three decades.
Dr Michael Shine (80), who has an address at Wellington Road in Dublin was charged today with 25 counts of indecent assault which allegedly occurred from the 1960s until the mid-1980s, at Our Lady’s Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth and at a clinic in the same county.
Det Sgt Nicholas Kelly told Judge Cormac Dunne at Dublin District Court 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.”
Dr Shine was arrested at Parkgate Street, near the courthouse. He remained seated and silent for most of the brief hearing.
Det Sgt Kelly said the DPP has directed that the retired doctor is to face a Circuit Court trial, meaning his case will go before a judge and jury. The detective asked for a remand to allow time for the book of evidence to be completed.
He also asked for bail conditions to be imposed compelling the former surgeon to sign on at a Garda station once a week and to surrender his passport and not apply for a new one.
He also asked for an order compelling Dr Shine to notify the senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Patrick Marry if he had plans to reside at any other location in the jurisdiction.
Defence solicitor Bobby Eagar objected to the signing on condition being imposed as well as the garda’s request for Dr Shine to surrender his passport.
The lawyer said the accused planned to go on holidays to the Canary Islands in August for a couple of months. He argued that the conditions sought were unfair adding that it could take until early 2014 before his client’s Circuit Court trial goes ahead. He also said it is expected that the trial would last about three weeks.
Mr Eagar said the conditions sought were onerous for an 80-year-old man “who has never had to do that before and is not a flight risk”.
Judge Dunne decided not to impose the signing on condition or to order Dr Shine to surrender his passport.
However, he stipulated that Dr Shine must directly inform gardaí and the main investigating officer Det Insp Marry if he plans to change address.
He was then remanded on bail in his own bond of €5,000 and was ordered to appear again on a date in October when he is to be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.