Priest Gerald Ridsdale pleads guilty to child molestation in Ballarat
DISGRACED priest Gerald Ridsdale pleaded guilty this morning to a raft of molestation offences of ten boys and one girl in the Ballarat area.
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DISGRACED priest Gerald Ridsdale pleaded guilty this morning to a raft of molestation offences of ten boys and one girl in the Ballarat area.
Ridsdale abused the boys and the girl during the 1960s, 70s and 80s when he was a priest in Ballarat.
Charges involving another female victim were on Thursday formally dropped by prosecutors.
Ridsdale appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via videolink and the 82-year-old’s walking frame could be seen in the background.
“I plead guilty to all charges as presented, your honour,” Ridsdale said
The former housemate of Cardinal George Pell abused some children on multiple occasions.
The offences occurred in Ballarat, Quantong, Mortlake, Ocean Grove, Edenhope, Apsley and Riverside.
The charges follow Ridsdale’s evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Ridsdale was one of a number of priests to testify at the Royal Commission.
The commission has referred hundreds of cases to authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Ridsdale was ordered to appear at the County Court for a plea hearing in August.