July 08, 2005

More charges for jailed priest

AUSTRALIA
Catholic News

Ballarat police in Victoria have charged former Wimmera priest Gerald Ridsdale with a further 63 charges of sexual abuse.

The Wimmera Mail-Time reports that Gerald Francis Ridsdale, 71, is serving 18 years´ jail for 46 sex offences against 21 children aged between nine and 15 and is due for parole in October 2009.

A mention hearing for the new charges will be on July 27 in Ballarat.

Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit detective Kevin Carson said the charges related to alleged incidents that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s and involved nine victims.

Posted by kshaw at July 8, 2005 05:57 AM