Former Priest Gerald Ridsdale Charged over 72 Cases of Child Sex Abuse

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
June 21, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/former-priest-gerald-ridsdale-charged-over-72-cases-of-child-sex-abuse/story-e6frg6nf-1226667283803

A FORMER Catholic priest has been charged with 72 child sex abuse charges relating to alleged historical offences.

Gerald Francis Ridsdale, 79, is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning for a filing hearing regarding the charges, which include buggery, carnal knowledge and indecent assault.

A police spokeswoman said detectives from Taskforce Sano, established to investigate offences revealed by the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, had been investigating the man and laid the charges.