Australia's most notorious homosexual pedophile Catholic priest makes deathbed confession

Gerald Ridsdale will soon be sentenced after confessing to a 72nd crime against a young boy.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Notorious prolific paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has pleaded guilty to another charge relating to a historical sex offences. 

Ridsdale was charged in 2022 with one count of indecent assault of a minor in the 1980s, and on Thursday he pleaded guilty to that charge. 

It comes after the victim-survivor came forward after he was assaulted at St Brigid's College in Horsham by the then-assistant priest between 1987 and 1988.

The Ballarat Magistrates Court heard this afternoon the priest told the then-13-year-old boy "it's alright" as he molested him.

He was acting as a counsellor to the teenager at the time.

The college student is the 72nd known victim-survivor of Ridsdale's abuse.

The plea brings the former priest's charges to a total of 192, the court heard he had been dealt with by the court on seven previous occasions.

Ridsdale has admitted to offending the over 70 minors between 1961 to 1988. 

Last year Ridsdale was sentenced for the seventh time over the sexual abuse of two boys in Mortlake in the 1980s.

He is currently serving a near 40-year sentence and is expected to be eligible for parole in 2027 — when he will be 93 years old.

The former priest from South West and Central Victoria appeared via video link into the Ballarat Magistrates Court from St John's at Port Phillip prison.

The court heard the 89-year-old had a fall in his cell in Hopkins Correctional Centre last November, and was left lying on the floor for hours before he was found.

He is now bed-bound and a hoist is required to move him. 

The frail-looking, elderly man appeared from a reclining bed with blankets and said little during the proceedings.

Ridsdale will be sentenced for his 192nd charge in August.