COLIN SHAW'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BELFAST: A CHILD'S NIGHTMARE AND A JUSTICE SYSTEM IN QUESTION
In March 2013, a harrowing case involving Colin Shaw, a known offender from Belfast, came to light, revealing the devastating impact of his crimes on a young girl and her family.The incident began on a seemingly ordinary Wednesday evening in September 2009, when a mother from Belfast went to pick up her 10-year-old daughter from a local church group near their home.
To her horror, her daughter was nowhere to be found, sparking a frantic search that would last for hours.
As the mother and neighbors scoured the streets of Belfast, fear and panic took hold.
The mother recounted her distress, recalling how her mind raced with terrifying scenarios, including the possibility of her daughter being kidnapped or harmed, reminiscent of notorious cases like that of Jennifer Cardy, murdered by Robert Black.
The community's efforts intensified, with everyone on the lookout for the missing child.
Approximately an hour after the initial alarm, the young girl was found at the top of the street, visibly shaken and crying.
She revealed that she had been with a man named Colin Shaw, a man she had come to know over several weeks while playing with friends.
Shaw had befriended her, offering alcohol and cigarettes, and on the night she disappeared, he took her to the Ozone leisure complex in Belfast, where he sexually assaulted her.
The child's bravery in giving evidence in court was a significant aspect of the case, despite the emotional toll it took on her.
Authorities conducted a thorough search of Shaw’s residence in east Belfast, uncovering disturbing evidence.
Among the items found was a map marked with every nursery, primary, and secondary school in the area, along with a poem about a girl sharing the same name as Shaw’s young victim.
These findings raised serious concerns about Shaw’s intentions and potential predatory behavior.
Shaw was formally charged with multiple offenses, including child abduction, grooming, and sexual assault.
The legal process was complicated, with several trials being halted and restarted due to procedural issues.
It was not until November of the previous year that a jury finally convicted Shaw of the charges.
The court sentenced him last week, but the outcome left the victim and her family feeling betrayed and devastated.
Shaw received a sentence of two years in prison, with an additional four years on license.
Notably, Shaw had already spent two years on remand, and he was released from custody on the very day he was sentenced.
The young girl’s mother expressed her anguish, stating, “I just felt sick when I heard.
My daughter was sitting beside me when we were told about the pathetic sentence and then that he was getting out.
She hasn’t stopped crying since and hasn’t left the house.
She has also started self-harming.” She questioned the justice system’s handling of the case, lamenting, “What justice is that?
What punishment is that?
We just feel helpless.
We put our faith in the justice system, but from the very beginning, the justice system looked after Shaw, not our daughter.” In a related development, the court had previously warned that Shaw, a 48-year-old from Belfast, could be released within days despite his two-year sentence.
The judge, Corinne Philpott QC, ordered Shaw to register as a sex offender for ten years and emphasized that failure to comply would result in re-imprisonment.
Police had uncovered a map with schools and nurseries marked on it among Shaw’s possessions, along with a poem about a girl with the same name as his victim.
During his trial, Shaw claimed that his interest in the schools was innocent and that he had done nothing wrong, but the court was unconvinced, citing his history of indecent assaults dating back 30 years and his previous conviction for perverting justice.
Judge Philpott highlighted Shaw’s disturbing pattern of behavior, noting that his fascination with children was a “very strange interest” for a single man without children or a spouse.
She expressed concern over his recent acceptance that his actions were wrong, indicating a risk of reoffending.
Shaw’s criminal record, which included two indecent assaults and a case of perverting justice, further underscored the danger he posed.
The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting Shaw from unsupervised contact with children, working with minors, or visiting child-centric locations.
Overall, the case of Colin Shaw from Belfast has left a lasting scar on the community and raises questions about the adequacy of the justice system in protecting vulnerable children and delivering appropriate punishment for such heinous crimes.
