Catholic Priest Gerald Ridsdale Likely to Plead Guilty to Child Sex Charges

By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
March 9, 2017

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CATHOLIC priest Gerald Ridsdale looks set to plead guilty to dozens of child sex charges, a court has heard.

The 82-year-old was charged with 36 child sex offences in January, and police have since served him with two additional charges.

He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court via videolink today where magistrate Johanna Metcalf was told the case was close to resolving.

It means Ridsdale’s alleged victims will be spared the ordeal of giving evidence to prove their claims.

But he will almost certainly be given a discounted sentence if he enters a plea of guilty, particularly at such an early stage.