Gerald Ridsdale ‘happy’ Catholic Church paid his victims
ONE of Australia’s worst paedophiles Gerald Ridsdale says he’s “happy” the Catholic Church has coughed up cash to his victims. Last week, four were told they’re unlikely to see a cent from the depraved monster.
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MONSTER paedophile Gerald Ridsdale has told a court he’s “happy” to know another seven of his victims have been compensated for his vile crimes.
Ridsdale appeared via videolink at the County Court this morning where it was revealed seven of his victims had reached a private settlement with the Catholic Church.
In light of the settlement the men have now withdrawn compensation claims they were pursuing through the court.
“I’m happy to hear that those people have received compensation,” Ridsdale told chief judge Peter Kidd.
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Ridsdale was forced to represent himself saying he was unable to find a lawyer to act for him despite trying three different avenues.
There are currently at least another nine applicants who are pursuing a compensation claim against Ridsdale through the court.
Four of those were last week told they’re unlikely to see a cent from the depraved monster.
Ridsdale has written a letter to the court outlining his financial position which is understood to be practically non existent.
His victims are instead dealing with the Catholic Church, with many in direct negotiations with the diocese of Ballarat, where Ridsdale committed the majority of his offending.
Ridsdale is considered the Australian Catholic church’s worst paedophile.
He has pleaded to a total of 161 indictable charges since his initial arrest in 1993, but he has admitted the true victim count is in the hundreds.
He was due for possible parole as early next year but had another three years added to his minimum term after he admitted dozens of new offences last year.
His new earliest possible release date is now 2022.
Sources have told the Herald Sun Ridsdale is resigned to the fact he will die in prison, and just wants to be left alone.
And he has blamed the Catholic Church for allowing his horrific history of offending to go unstopped.
He was shuffled between parishes and sent for counselling but never reported to authorities despite church authorities knowing about his offending from before his ordination.
He told one victim the abuse was “God’s work” while another was told if he said anything bad things would happen to his family.
The horrific ordeal of one young girl whose father left her on a church altar to be raped by Ridsdale moved the County Court to tears when it was revealed.