More victims of ‘epidemic of abuse’ coming forward

AUSTRALIA
The Age

October 12, 2012

Barney Zwartz

WHEN Ned Murphy (not his real name) was molested by three paedophiles at the notorious St Alipius school in Ballarat, he had plenty of company.

”Brother Fitzgerald molested just about everyone in the class,” said Murphy yesterday. ”It happened every morning. We would read from 11.30 to 12, and he would make one boy each time sit on his knee down the back.

”He would grope you and fondle you and kiss you. He would pick randomly, and it was terrifying.”

Even more terrifying were the attentions of Brother Farrell and particularly the school’s priest, Gerald Ridsdale, later jailed several times on numerous child abuse charges.

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