Notorious Australian Paedophile Priest Gerald Ridsdale Dies in Prison at 90

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Gerald Ridsdale, Australia's most notorious paedophile priest, died in prison on Tuesday morning at the age of 90. Ridsdale had been incarcerated since 1994 for the sexual abuse of more than 70 children over a span of three decades, primarily in regional Victoria. According to reports, his abusive activities began shortly after he was ordained in 1961, and he exploited his position within the Catholic Church to gain the trust of his victims and their families.

Details emerging from a 2017 royal commission into child sexual abuse revealed that church officials had long been aware of Ridsdale's offenses, with accusations dating back to the 1960s. The commission confirmed that Ridsdale was frequently reassigned to different parishes to shield the institution from scandal. In the lead-up to his death, Ridsdale had been excused from several court appearances due to declining health, including chronic pain and muscle wasting. He was serving a maximum sentence of 40 years after pleading guilty to multiple charges, the most recent of which were recorded just last year.

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