Paedophile Former Priest Faces More Questions
By Steve Butcher
Infamous paedophile and former catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale will be interviewed for a second time over new sex abuse allegations. A detective from a Victorian police taskforce on Wednesday morning applied in Melbourne magistrates court to interview Ridsdale who was recently interviewed by investigators. Ridsdale, 79, wearing a black top and seated at a desk in front of a brick wall, appeared from a prison via video link. Detective senior constable David Rae told the court that since May 30 this year police had identified a number of complainants who had provided sworn statements. Detective Rae said the nature of the statements alleged that Ridsdale was responsible for a series of historical sex-related offences at various locations in Victoria between 1966 and 1980. He told magistrate Duncan Reynolds he wanted to interview the suspect for six hours from 10 on Thursday morning. Ridsdale's lawyer said he had nothing to say about the application and that he had advised his client about the procedure. In granting the application, Mr Reynolds said he was satisfied, under the legislation, it was in the interests of justice to transfer Ridsdale into the custody of police for questioning. He told Ridsdale that while he had made the order, it remained his right not to answer any questions and that this would be repeated before the police interview began. Ridsdale earlier spoke only to confirm that he could see and hear the proceedings. He is eligible for parole this month after serving a prison term for abusing 30 boys over a 26 year period from 1961.
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