The jury in the trial of a retired surgeon accused of groping a number of young male patients between 1964 and 1991 has begun its deliberations.

Dr Michael Shine of Wellington Road in Dublin 4 is accused of indecently assaulting the boys while he was working at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Michael Shine is now 85 years of age, and each of the complainants are grown men.

The first alleged victim to give evidence during his trial claimed Dr Shine put his hand inside his underpants during a chest examination when he was 13.

The trial heard from a number of others who made similar complaints. Only one of them was being examined for an issue with their genitals.

Last week, the judge directed he be found not guilty in relation to one of the indecent assault charges.

In his evidence, Dr. Shine said he’d never do anything to embarrass or upset a patient.

He claimed he’d no memory of treating four of the boys and the court heard there were no records linking three of them to him.

The jurors spent less than an hour considering the evidence this afternoon and will resume their deliberations tomorrow morning.