Cardinal George Pell told in 1970s of claims of abuse, royal commission hears

By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
May 20, 2015

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/cardinal-george-pell-told-in-1970s-of-claims-of-abuse-royal-commission-hears/story-fni0fee2-1227361139588

Cardinal George Pell in the Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia

Gerald Ridsdale outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

David Ridsdale pictured in 1994.

GEORGE Pell tried to bribe the nephew of notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale to keep quiet about his abuse at the hands of his uncle, it has been alleged.

David Ridsdale told the royal commission today he phoned Pell in 1993 to tell him about the abuse but instead of offering help he tried to silence him.

He said Pell asked “what would it take” for him to keep quiet about the abuse.

Mr Ridsdale said he responded: “F--- you George and everything you stand for.”

Mr Ridsdale said the conversation, by telephone, took place a month before Pell controversially supported Ridsdale in court when he pleaded guilty to a string of abuse charges.

Pell has persistently denied knowing the extent of Ridsdale’s offending and has played down his relationship with the paedophile.

But David Ridsdale said today Pell was a close friend of the family and had been for more than a decade.

In a statutory declaration made in 2002, when David Ridsdale first spoke of his call to Pell, the then Archbishop of Sydney said he recalled the conversation.

“Although I do not recall the precise date of the telephone call, I recall that it was while I was an Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne and that it was around the time of police action against Gerald Ridsdale.

To the best of my recollection the call took place early in 1993,” he said.

“He told me that he had been abused by his uncle. He also told me of financial difficulties that he, his wife and children were experiencing.

“I felt sorry for David and would have been keen to help him if I could. However, there was no basis upon which I could have provided him with any significant financial assistance.

“In my telephone conversation with David, there was no mention made of David going to the police. I did not consider his call or the conversation to be threatening in any way. David did not make any threats and did not swear at me.

“It was alleged that I said to David words to the effect “What will it take to keep you quiet?” I emphatically deny having said these words or any words to that effect.

“I emphatically and totally deny the allegation that I made any attempt to buy David’s silence.”

Pell also denied he offered to buy David a house or a car.

Earlier, the commission heard Pell was told of allegations of abuse as early as 1974.

Victim Timothy Green told the hearing today he told the Cardinal he had been abused by Brother Edward Dowlan but nothing was done.

He said Pell dismissed him saying: “Don’t be ridiculous”.

Dowlan, a convicted paedophile, has since changed his name and has admitted molesting more than 20 young students including kids at St Alipius Boys’ School.

He worked at the school alongside notorious paedophiles Robert Charles Best and Gerald Francis Ridsdale.

Cardinal Pell, an assistant priest at the parish in the early 1970s, shared the St Alipius’ presbytery home with Ridsdale for a short time in 1973.

Lawyers representing the church said today he had a different recollection of events than those detailed by Mr Green.

The royal commission says Pell may need to make a statement to the commission.

It will be the third time he has been called to give evidence since the public hearings started.

Because he is now based at the Vatican he can’t be compelled to comply with the commission.

Secret church documents tendered to a royal commission yesterday revealed that the Cardinal helped move Australia’s worst paedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale between parishes.

The move came decades after complaints were first made about Ridsdale and years before his last known offending.

It is not clear whether Cardinal Pell knew of the offending.

He is not currently scheduled to appear at the current royal commission hearing sitting in Ballarat.

If he does it would be his second appearance before the commission following his much criticised attendance via videolink from Rome in August last year.

His evidence sparked outrage when he said the Vatican was right to refuse the release of papal documents relating to every abuse case involving an Australian cleric.

Describing those documents as “internal working documents of another sovereign state” Cardinal Pell said the Church had provided 5000 pages of documents which he deemed sufficient.