Falklands : COLIN MacDONALD JAILED FOR 13 YEARS
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 16.01.2011 (Article Archived on 30.01.2011)
Seventy year-old Colin George MacDonald has been found guilty, following a three day trial at the Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands, of three counts of rape, an attempted rape and two indecent assaults, committed against children under the age of 13 spanning a number of years from 1967 to 1977.
COLIN MacDONALD JAILED FOR 13 YEARS
By J. Brock (FINN)
Seventy year-old Colin George MacDonald has been found guilty, following a three day trial at the Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands, of three counts of rape, an attempted rape and two indecent assaults, committed against children under the age of 13 spanning a number of years from 1967 to 1977. Mr MacDonald was sentenced to a total of 13 years imprisonment. He will also be listed on the Sex Offenders' register.
Speaking after the trial, Chief Superintendent Gary Finchett Director of Community Safety and Chief Police Officer said, ‘MacDonald has eventually been brought to justice for what he did. This case shows we will pursue perpetrators long after they have committed their offences. They will never safe from the law.”
Mr Finchett went on to say, “For a very long time MacDonald has escaped punishment for what he did. Justice has now been done and seen to be done. I am pleased with this verdict which will hopefully allow the three victims to achieve some closure and begin to move on with their lives”. However, he acknowledged this would be easier said than done due to the traumatic nature of the crimes committed against them.
Commenting about Mr MacDonald’s ‘not guilty’ plea at the beginning of the trial Mr Finchett said, “MacDonald has blatantly and arrogantly denied any wrongdoing whatsoever. Despite this, his victims bravely came to court to re-live the experiences that they suffered as children. It must have been a very painful and distressing for them. All the victims showed great courage and they deserve our full support and admiration”.
The Director of Community Safety thanked the Attorney General’s department and prosecution team for the very professional manner in which they presented the case. He also paid tribute to his own officers saying, “This was a first class investigation led by the Senior Investigating Officer, Inspector Len McGill. All the police officers involved in this case acted with total professionalism and dedication. The quality of the investigation was excellent, as was the support that was provided to the victims and witnesses by the police and Social Work Department. Sexual assaults are extremely difficult to deal with and I know all the staff involved have been touched by this case in some way.”
Finally, Mr Finchett encouraged other victims in similar situations to speak out saying, “I believe this case is a tipping point for the Falkland Islands. I hope that other people who are currently suffering from or have previously been the subject of abuse will now have the courage to stand up and tell somebody. Coming forward and being believed can be a huge relief and you don't have to suffer in silence. It’s not your fault - please remember that. The police and the other departments will listen to you. By coming forward you may also be saving someone else from a similar fate”.
For further information, please contact Director of Community Safety and Chief Police Officer Gary Finchett on 28100.
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