AUSTRALIA
The Age
May 30, 2013
Jared Lynch
Victims of serial child rapist Gerald Ridsdale have been told the former Catholic priest could be freed from prison within a month.
Ridsdale, 79, who abused dozens of children over three decades from the 1960s, was sentenced in 2006 to a maximum of 13 years, a term that would expire in 2019. He was already serving a maximum 18-year term from 1994.
Victims have recently been contacted by the Adult Parole Board and informed that the paedophile could be released as soon as June 29, sparking fears that he is likely to reoffend.
Victims of Ridsdale said he should never be freed. ”The damage to the victims … to the rest of the family circle goes on and on. It never goes away. It is constantly present,” said ”Shirley”, whose sons were abused by him.
”The victims get a life sentence but the perpetrator certainly doesn’t have a life sentence.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.