MAURICE COLBERT OF WATERFORD SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE

In a somber courtroom in Waterford, Maurice Colbert, a 56-year-old man from Coolbaheh, Clasmore, was formally sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The conviction stems from a trial held in January, which revealed that the abuse occurred over a period spanning from 1994 to 1997.

During the proceedings, it was disclosed that the victim, who is now 25 years old, was still in primary school when the abuse first began. The court heard harrowing details of the incidents, including a particularly disturbing episode where Colbert raped her inside a shed. During that assault, he allegedly asked her, “Do you want to make me happy?”—a question that underscores the manipulative and coercive nature of the abuse.

The judge, Mr. Justice Patrick McCarthy, acknowledged the profound and lasting impact of the crimes on the victim. He noted that she continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, and feelings of disgust, which are direct consequences of the abuse she endured as a child.

In his remarks, Mr. Justice McCarthy pointed out that testimonials describing Colbert as a family man and a diligent worker are relevant in some cases, but emphasized that sexual crimes are often committed in secrecy and by individuals who appear to be respectable members of the community. This duality makes such offenses particularly insidious and difficult to detect.

Considering Colbert’s advancing age and health issues, the judge decided that the sentence should be the minimum permissible under the law, which is eight years. He described this sentence as the absolute minimum necessary to serve justice and to reflect the gravity of the crimes committed in Waterford.