A retired surgeon has been cleared of four charges of indecent assault against three boys at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Dr Michael Shine, of Wellington Road in Dublin 4, went on trial accused of groping six boys at the hospital and his nearby clinic between 1964 and 1991.

Earlier in the trial, the judge directed the jurors to return a not guilty verdict in relation to one of the complainants.

They are still considering three charges of indecent assault against him.