Gerald Ridsdale, a convicted paedophile priest who abused over 70 children across three many years, has died at 90 in prison, where he had been held since 1994.
His crimes began in 1961 when he was ordained. The Catholic Church was accused of repeatedly moving him between parishes despite knowing of his crimes, based on reports. He had been imprisoned since 1994 following his conviction for abusing children in southern and south-western Victoria.
Ridsdale’s crimes reshaped Australia’s legal system, influenced royal commissions and inquiries, and tarnished a once-unquestioned church.
In 2023, a magistrate told Ridsdale he would “probably die in custody” while extending the then 89-year-old’s prison sentence by one other yr for abusing his 72nd victim.
Survivors’ advocates say his death doesn’t erase the immense suffering he caused.
“Gerald Ridsdale’s death doesn’t erase the immense suffering he inflicted on innocent children and their families. While some might even see his passing as the tip of a dark chapter, for survivors, the trauma and its impacts remain,” said Alison Geale, chief executive of kid safety group Bravehearts.
“Bravehearts stands with all those affected, reminding the world that justice will not be just concerning the fall of an offender, but about ongoing support, recognition, and healing for survivors.”
The royal commission found that Ridsdale’s victims likely numbered within the lots of and concluded that the late Cardinal George Pell was aware of the abuse by 1982. Pell, nevertheless, strongly disputed this, insisting he didn’t learn of the allegations until 1993.
Ridsdale had been in chronic pain and bedridden in his final years. After a fall in his prison cell in 2022, where he lay for hours before being found, he became bedridden, affected by chronic pain, muscle atrophy, and limb weakness. He could only attend court hearings via video link.
The 90-year-old was within the medical unit of Port Phillip Prison in Truganina, Melbourne’s west, after being hospitalised in March last yr as a consequence of deteriorating health.
Leonie Sheedy, co-founder of the Care Leavers Australia Network, which supports abuse survivors from foster care, orphanages, and other state-run institutions, said Ridsdale’s death “doesn’t erase the misery he caused”.
If you might be a toddler and you wish help because something has happened to you, you possibly can call Childline freed from charge on 0800 1111. You may call the NSPCC should you are an adult and you might be nervous a few child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331
