Archbishops knew of sex abuse priest

Australia's child sex abuse royal commission has also heard allegations raised during Ridsdale's last court case. Photo / Thinkstock

Ridsdale moved after ‘sexual problems’.

Two Sydney archbishops knew of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale's "sexual problems" and that he should be kept away from children, an inquiry has heard.

Australia's child sex abuse royal commission has also heard allegations raised during Ridsdale's last court case that a victim believed another priest walked in while Ridsdale was sexually assaulting her.

Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns also knew Ridsdale was committing crimes and abusing children.

Ridsdale was sent out of Victoria, effectively to a desk job in Sydney, to get him away from parishes and access to children, senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness, SC, said yesterday.

Documents show Mulkearns discussed with the new Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Edward Clancy, the conditions of Ridsdale's transfer to Sydney, as agreed under his predecessor, Cardinal Sir James Freeman.

The conditions were that Ridsdale worked at the Catholic Enquiry Centre, had no contact with children and continued with counselling.

But Ridsdale abused children while he was in Sydney.

At a bishops' conference in 1983, Mulkearns took Clancy aside and told him Ridsdale was receiving counselling for "certain sexual problems" and had come to Sydney to get away from problems in Victoria.

Clancy told a Catholic Church Insurance investigator in 1993 that at the time he had no real idea of paedophilia or its impact on children.

Ridsdale was removed from the Victorian parish of Mortlake and sent to the Sydney centre in 1982.

The commission has heard Mulkearns told a 1982 meeting of his advisers, the College of Consultors, it had become necessary to move Ridsdale. Now-Cardinal George Pell was at that meeting but Ridsdale said he did not speak to him about it.

Mulkearns, Monsignor Leo Fiscalini and vicar general Father Henry Nolan all received complaints about Ridsdale's conduct in Mortlake, the commission heard.

Gerald Ridsdale's punishment

• Oct 1994: Jailed for 18 years (15-year minimum)

•Aug 2006: Sentenced to 13 years (seven-year minimum); admits abusing 10 boys from 1970-1987

• Apr 2014: Sentenced to eight years (five-year minimum); admits abusing 11 boys, three girls from 1961-1980

• Apr 2019: Eligible for parole, aged 84

- AAP