SERIAL child sex offender and paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale says he never asked George Pell to support him when he first faced court over child sex offences.
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Victims have criticised Cardinal Pell - then a Bishop - for years for accompanying Ridsdale to the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 1993.
Ridsdale told the Royal Commission from prison on Wednesday that the only conversation he had with Pell at the time, was on their 10-minute walk from the St Fransciscan Monastery to the court.
His barrister had suggested Cardinal Pell give a good character reference for him, and contacted Cardinal Pell to ask him to accompany him, he said.
"The barrister was looking for people who might come and speak on my behalf and Pell was one of the people he suggested."
The commission has heard that Ridsdale personally approached Ballarat priest Father Adrian McInerney, who ultimately provided a good character reference for him at this court appearance.
Asked by the commission's chair, Peter McClellan, what Ridsdale thought Cardinal Pell would say, he replied "I don't know, I think we were clutching at straws really".
"What did you think Pell's role was going to be?" Justice McClellan asked.
"I don't' know what benefit anyone coming to speak on my behalf ... would've been to me or my cause, to my hearing or sentence. But the barrister said we need some people to come along and support me."
He recalled reading newspaper reports that Cardinal Pell had only accompanied him to court, and had not given him a reference in court.
Ridsdale's offending against children spans more than three decades from the 1950s to the late 1980s, during which time he was moved from parish to parish across Victoria.
Some of the offences took place in Inglewood and Swan Hill.
A key focus of the Ballarat hearing has been how he was able to continue offending against children.
Cardinal Pell has apologised at the Royal Commission for any offence caused by accompanying Ridsdale to court.
Counsel Assisting the Commission, Gail Furness, SC, asked Ridsdale on Wednesday about his relationship with Cardinal Pell in the 1970s. Ridsdale replied that he had had little to do with then-Father Pell and denied having any recollection of living at the Ballarat East presbytery with him, but accepted that records showed they had lived there at the same time in the early '70s.
"I've been told that but I can't remember actually being there with George," he said. "I can't remember him in the house … I've never had much to do with him."
Ridsdale said he "would have met him, he was a Ballarat-born-and-bred man, although I think he was some years behind me in priesthood and I think he did all his studies overseas."
He could not recall when they met saying they would only have met at clergy meetings and retreats: "I don't know I can't remember having any dealings with George at all."
Ridsdale could not remember who else, aside from his sister, had attended court to support him that day.
St Ilipius Parish priest, Father Adrian McInerney, told the commission on Tuesday that Ridsdale had personally asked him to support him in court. He said he agreed to do this without knowing what the court matter was about: "I took him at his word it was a minor matter," he said.
Father McInerney said he was horrified and aghast when he first heard Ridsdale's charges read out in court, but went on to give the character reference, unaware he could at that point change his mind about doing this and leave.
Speaking outside the hearing, David Ridsdale, who was a victim of his uncle's offending, said it appeared to be "another case of selective valuable memory".
"I have more questions in my head than any answers," he said.
"I'd be curious to know who's visited or rang him in the last six weeks.
"It's going to take a while to even understand how I feel right now. Despite the ugliness I'm extremely happy that this commission is occurring and most of all for me the biggest issue has been the outpouring of support from Ballarat.
"I'm so pleased to see that the town is finally healing."
Cardinal Pell reiterated that he would appear in person commission if required, in a letter to the commission's chair, Justice Peter McClellan, on Tuesday night.
Cardinal Pell wrote of his full willingness to co-operate with its investigation.
"Without wanting to pre-empt the Royal Commission in any way - you can't just invite yourself to give evidence - I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the Commission request this, be it by statement, appearance by video link, or by attending personally."
Without wanting to pre-empt the Royal Commission in any way - you can't just invite yourself to give evidence - I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the Commission request this.
- Cardinal George Pell
"Like everyone else I am horrified by the accounts that survivors have given in their evidence during the Ballarat hearings, and at the enormous impact the abuse has had on them, their families and the community.
"I am also deeply saddened by the way Church authorities have failed in responding to these crimes."
The hearing continues.
FULL STATEMENT FROM CARDINAL GEORGE PELL
Cardinal George Pell has once again restated his willingness to give evidence to the Royal Commission in a letter written to the Chair of the Commission, Hon. Peter McClellan AM, last night.
"Without wanting to pre-empt the Royal Commission in any way - you can't just invite yourself to give evidence - I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the Commission request this, be it by
statement, appearance by video link, or by attending personally".
Cardinal Pell also said it was important to restate his strong personal commitment to full co-operation with the Royal Commission, in light of the Ballarat hearings and speculation about his own willingness to give evidence.
"Like everyone else I am horrified by the accounts that survivors have given in their evidence during the Ballarat hearings, and at the enormous impact the abuse has had on them, their families and the community.
"I am also deeply saddened by the way Church authorities have failed in responding to these crimes.
"So far I have not been asked to give evidence in any form, but as I have said repeatedly, I am deeply committed to assisting the Royal Commission and to doing anything I can to help survivors.
"This includes giving evidence in person, if asked to do so".
- The Age