PAEDOPHILE priest Gerald Ridsdale’s lack of memory of key details of who in the Catholic Church knew about his abusing is another kick in the guts for victims, advocates say.
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Clergy abuse victim Andrew Collins says victims are bitterly disappointed that Ridsdale has not revealed who in the church hierarchy knew about his offending and moved him around.
“A couple of them have walked out and said there’s just nothing happening. They’re disappointed,” Mr Collins said.
Lawyer and Monash University doctoral researcher Judy Courtin said Ridsdale’s selective memory was just not credible. “Whenever it comes to talking about anyone in the hierarchy he has no memory of it at all,” Ms Courtin told reporters in Ballarat.
“It is like a final kick in the guts, a twist of the knife, for survivors and their families. It’s so bad. He’s got nothing to lose, why doesn’t he just fess up and tell the truth?”
Ridsdale’s nephew and victim David Ridsdale said it appeared to be another case of “selective Vatican memory”.
As for Ridsdale admitting he hurt children, Mr Ridsdale said it was the first time he had heard his uncle say that.
“It’s very hard not to be cynical that that benefits him,” he said.
