AUSTRALIA
The Guardian
Australian Associated Press
Tuesday 26 May 2015
A priest says he was shocked when he found out Father Gerald Francis Ridsdale was facing child sex abuse charges, but still gave character evidence for him in court.
Father Adrian McInerney said he accompanied Ridsdale to his first court appearance in 1993 and it was only in court that he found out that Ridsdale was charged with sex offences.
“I know how it looks but I’m saying I did not know,” McInerney told the child abuse royal commission in Ballarat.
“I just took it that he needed help and I was going to give it. I took him at his word that it was a minor matter, a small matter that he was going to court for.
“Up until then I have to confess that in certain areas I had some admiration for him because of his ability.”
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