AUSTRALIA
The Age
‘Another priest’ present when Gerald Ridsdale abused a child in his bedroom, royal commission hears
May 28, 2015
Jane Lee, Rania Spooner
Another priest was present when Gerald Ridsdale raped a child in his bedroom in a house he shared with other priests, including George Pell, a royal commission has heard.
Ridsdale told the royal commission he could not remember who the priest was.
Counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness, SC, asked Ridsdale about his abuse of a child in his bedroom at St Alipius’ presbytery, where he lived with George Pell in the early 1970s. Ridsdale has accepted that he lived with Pell at the time, but has told the commission he cannot remember having any dealings with him.
Between 1972 and 1973, he abused a girl after she followed him into his bedroom to see his rock collection.
The girl believed that there was another priest there for a short time while Ridsdale sexually abused her, but did not intervene.
“I accept that’s what she believed,” Ridsdale said.
Counsel assisting the commission said “can you help us with who was the priest?”
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