Ridsdale to give evidence at commission

The child sexual abuse royal commission hearing in Ballarat will hear evidence from Australia's worst pedophile priest.

A cross on the exterior of St Mary's Cathedral

(AAP) Source: AAP

Australia's worst pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale will give evidence to the child abuse royal commission next week.

A major focus of the commission's Ballarat hearing is who was responsible for moving Ridsdale from parish to parish, allowing him to continue to offend, and why.

Ridsdale will give evidence via videolink from jail on Wednesday, May 27.

Ridsdale abused more than 50 children as he was moved between nine Victorian parishes over three decades. He also abused an altar boy in Sydney.

The commission is holding a three-week hearing in Ballarat looking at abuse by members of the Catholic Church in the Victorian regional city and the response of the church.

It will hold a second public hearing on the matter later in the year.

Another convicted Ballarat priest Paul David Ryan gave evidence during a private hearing.


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Source: AAP


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