Australia's most prolific pedophile priest

The true number of victims of Australia's worst pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale is believed to be as high as 1000.

THE EXTENT OF GERALD FRANCIS RIDSDALE'S OFFENDING AGAINST CHILDREN

* Australia's most prolific pedophile priest

* In jail since August 1994

* Has pleaded guilty to another 20 offences against 11 victims (10 boys and one girl)

* Previously convicted of 138 offences against 53 victims

* Many charges representative of ongoing offending rather than single criminal acts

* Total effective sentence of 28 years' jail

* Believed to have abused up to 1000 children, victims' group Broken Rites says

* First conviction dates from 1961 (ordained as Catholic priest July 25)

* But began offending while in seminary in 1950s

* Laicised in 1993 after first convictions

1993 COURT CASE

* Convicted of sexually assaulting eight children

* Pleaded guilty to 27 offences

* Sentenced to two years and three months, suspended after three months

1994 COURT CASE

* Convicted of sexually assaulting 21 victims (20 boys, one girl)

* Pleaded guilty to 46 offences committed between 1961 and 1982

* Included abusing a boy and girl after presiding over their father's funeral, indecently assaulting an altar boy during confession

* Jailed for 18 years, with 15-year minimum

2006 COURT CASE

* Convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys from 1970-1987

* Pleaded guilty to 35 offences

* Sentenced to 13 years' jail, with seven-year minimum

* Included sexual abuse in the confessional, in the sacristy, in the presbytery, in his car; following Mass, first holy communion, confirmation, weddings and funerals

2014 COURT CASE

* Convicted of sexually abusing 14 victims (11 boys, three girls)

* Pleads guilty to 30 offences committed between 1961 and 1980

* Victims included a girl aged four when offending began, three children in one family

* Sentenced to eight years' jail, with five-year minimum

ABUSE CLAIMS TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

* 78 people made claims about Ridsdale to church

* Cover abuse from 1961 to 1988

* Compensation totalling $2.42m (including treatment, legal and other costs) paid to 32 victims who pursued civil claims; average almost $76,000

* Total of $1.2m paid to 28 victims through redress process; average $43,000

* Based on claims received by Ballarat diocese from January 1980-February 2015.


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Source: AAP


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