Priest Gerald Ridsdale pleads guilty to child molestation in Ballarat

AUSTRALIA
Daily Telegraph

Padraic Murphy, Herald Sun
April 12, 2017

DISGRACED priest Gerald Ridsdale pleaded guilty this morning to a raft of molestation offences of ten boys and one girl in the Ballarat area.

Ridsdale abused the boys and the girl during the 1960s, 70s and 80s when he was a priest in Ballarat.

Charges involving another female victim were on Thursday formally dropped by prosecutors.

Ridsdale appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via videolink and the 82-year-old’s walking frame could be seen in the background.

“I plead guilty to all charges as presented, your honour,” Ridsdale said.

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