Gerald Ridsdale, Australia's Most Notorious Paedophile Priest, Dies in Prison at 90
Ridsdale, convicted of abusing over 70 children during his three-decade tenure, leaves behind a legacy of trauma and institutional failures within the Catholic Church.
- Gerald Ridsdale, who began abusing children shortly after his ordination in 1961, was convicted of nearly 200 offenses and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
- The Catholic Church repeatedly moved Ridsdale between parishes despite knowledge of his crimes, enabling further abuse over three decades.
- A 2017 royal commission confirmed the church hierarchy, including senior figures like the late Cardinal George Pell, was aware of Ridsdale's abuse as early as the 1970s.
- Survivors and advocates emphasize that Ridsdale's death does not erase the profound suffering he caused, urging continued support for those affected.
- Ridsdale's crimes reshaped Australia's legal system, leading to significant inquiries and changes in institutional accountability for child sexual abuse.
The Guardian 
The Sydney Morning Herald 
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 
9News 
The Independent 