Gerald Ridsdale’s name blacked out on old school’s honour board

AUSTRALIA
The Age

June 1, 2016

Melissa Cunningham

A black line has been put through paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale’s name on a board at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat honouring former students who went on to take holy orders.

The school has also placed a plaque beneath it, which reads: “The black line above stands both as a symbol of respect to the bravery of victims and survivors, and for the college’s deep remorse.”

Ridsdale was convicted in 1993 of more than 100 charges of sexual abuse against children over a period of about 30 years.

School principal John Crowley concealed the disgraced priest’s name last year after he attended the child abuse hearings in Ballarat.

After listening to Ridsdale’s harrowing evidence for hours in the second week of the hearings last May, Mr Crowley said he was left horrified.

“I was both appalled and horrified and I felt the right thing to do was to cover his name pending further investigation,” Mr Crowley said.

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