A retired surgeon has been found guilty of groping seven boys in his care over a period of three decades.

Michael Shine (86), of Ballsbridge, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 13 charges of indecent assault committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, and at two private clinics in Drogheda on dates between 1971 to 1992.

On day 17 of the trial, the jury of two women and eight men returned guilty verdicts, having deliberated for just over six hours.

Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter until February 22 next for sentencing and remanded Shine on bail until that date.

During the trial, the first complainant told the court Shine groped him during two appointments in 1988 following surgery on his finger when he was aged 15. He said that during the first examination Shine rested his head on his chest and that his breathing became more intense and “creepy, to be honest”.

Another man said Shine prevented his father from being present for an examination following surgery on his testicles in 1985 when he was aged 13. He said Shine groped him during the exam.

A third witness said that during an examination on an injury, Shine began to abuse him for up to 10 minutes.

The fourth complainant said he was hit by a car during the summer of 1972 when he was aged 14 and he had required surgery on his right knee. He said Shine would come to his room in the evening to play chess with him during his stay in hospital. The man said that during a follow-up appointment Shine began “fondling” him, telling him “you could tell a lot this way”. He did not think Shine ever examined his knee.

A fifth man said Shine abused him and afterwards patted him on the head and told him he was a “good boy”. He said Shine abused him every day until he was discharged from hospital.

A sixth man said Shine performed surgery on his appendix at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 1971 when he was 13. He said during a follow-up examination Shine began fondling him, saying he needed to check nothing was damaged. The final complainant in the case said he was abused during an examination in 1975 when he was 13.

Shine denied doing anything improper during examinations with any of the complainants and said he had “no memory whatsoever” of ever treating any of them.

Judge Nolan thanked the jury for their attendance and for doing their duty.

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