Convicted pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has admitted more historical child sexual abuse in Victoria.
Appearing in Bendigo Magistrates Court via video link from Port Phillip Prison, as he lay in his prison bed and propped up by three pillows, the frail 90-year-old pleaded guilty to eight additional sexual assault charges against children.
He was facing 62 child sexual assault charges but 56 were withdrawn.
READ MORE: ‘Dictatorship’: Swim star drops coach shock on TV
The former Catholic priest, who had been too unwell to appear before his committal hearing previously, admitted six counts of indecently assaulting young males and two counts of buggery of two children who were aged under 14.
The crimes were committed in the regional Victorian towns of Inglewood, Ballarat, Apollo Bay, Horsham and Mortlake between 1973 and 1981.
“Are you guilty or not guilty, Mr Ridsdale,” Magistrate Megan Aumair asked the accused on Wednesday.
“I’m guilty,” Ridsdale replied.
The notorious pedophile priest will next appear at Bendigo County Court on February 17, 2025 for a plea hearing.
READ MORE: ‘In my 15 years as a detective, it was one of the most confronting things I’ve seen’
Ridsdale is serving a maximum of 40 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to sexually abusing at least 72 children during the 1970s and ’80s while working as a Catholic priest at multiple schools and churches across Victoria.
He had a fall in November 2022 and was bed-ridden, suffering chronic pain, muscle wasting and weak limbs and was recommended to be placed into palliative care in 2023.
If he serves out his current maximum sentence, Ridsdale will be at least 100 years old.
His previous offending largely took place in western Victoria where he spent most of his time as a priest after being ordained in 1961.
He also served in NSW and in New Mexico in the United States, where he underwent church-connected sex offender treatment.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
links to content on ABC
9News
