AUSTRALIA
The Newcastle Herald
March 9, 2018
By Monique Patterson
THE stages of grief have been many and varied for sexual abuse victim Paul Levey.
Now, nearly four decades later, he hopes a law change will allow him to finally get the apology he has been fighting for.
At age 14, Mr Levey was sent to live with Gerard Ridsdale at the Mortlake presbytery.
His Catholic parents put their faith in the priest to care for their son after the breakdown of their marriage.
What ensued for Mr Levey was a living hell in which he was subjected to daily sexual abuse by Ridsdale.
His abuser ensured his victim kept quiet for the eight months he resided with the priest.
“He scared me into not telling,” Mr Levey said.
“He’s an evil man – I’m glad he’s in jail and I’m glad he won’t get out of jail.”
Mr Levey, 50, didn’t tell anyone about his abuse until age 22.
His father heard a report about Ridsdale sexually abusing another young boy.
“My father straight away rang me and asked ‘what happened at Mortlake?’”
“He virtually marched me down to the Sunbury police station.”
But his day in court to face the man stole his innocence and “broke him” didn’t provide the closure he needed.
Mr Levey decided to sue the Catholic church in the early 90s, but at that time taking on a religious organisation was a legal minefield.
He hopes a second attempt to secure a settlement and an acknowledgement of guilt from the Catholic church will be successful.
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