Gerald Ridsdale victims wins $1.5million payout

A traumatised sexual abuse survivor of Australia’s worst ever paedophile priest has won a $1.5million from the Catholic Church payout hours before a trial.

The man, who does not wish to be named, was a student at the notorious St Alipius Christian Brothers Primary School in Ballarat, Victoria, between 1971 to 1973.

He alleges he was sexually abused by his Year 3 teacher Brother Leo Fitzgerald and by his Year 5 teacher Brother Stephen Farrell.

The man was also a target of notorious child sex predator Father Gerald Ridsdale, who was a priest of the Diocese of Ballarat, served as the school’s Chaplain, and lived at the the presbytery opposite the school.

Ridsdale’s long list of victims stands at about 70 names and he is now serving a 36-year jail term handed down in 1994.

Pictured: Australia’s worst paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale served as the school’s Chaplain

The plaintiff, who does not wish to be named, was a student at the notorious St Alipius Christian Brothers Primary School in Ballarat, Victoria, (pictured) between 1971 to 1973

A number Christian Brothers who taught there in the early 1970s have now been convicted of sex crimes against children and are locked up.

These include the principal of St Alipius, Robert Charles Best and Christian Brother teachers Edward Dowlan and Farrell.

Brother Leo Fitzgerald was the subject of hundreds of complaints but died before he could be prosecuted 10 years ago.

Many of the revelations only came out during the 2013 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

‘Many notorious paedophiles found sanctuary there at the expense of small defenceless schoolboys,’ the plaintiff’s lawyer Dr Vivian Waller said.

‘The Christian Brothers were aware of allegations of sexual impropriety against Brother Fitzgerald since the early 1950s.’

Decades on from the sickening sexual abuse the plaintiff told the royal commission he considered himself ‘one of the lucky ones’ because he enjoyed a successful career and he wanted to speak out on behalf of those who ‘were not strong enough.’

‘At the time I didn’t think I was badly affected,’ he said.

‘However, giving evidence in the royal commission took its toll and my life began to completely unravel. I had to stop work and I have never been able to go back.’

The 86-year-old is now likely to die behind bars, having been given more jail time after admitting more than a dozen rapes and sexual assaults

While many survivors of sexual abuse turn to ‘drugs or alcohol to numb the pain’, the plaintiff said he became a workaholic.

‘It was decades before I understood and accepted the impact the abuse had on my life and the moment I did, everything came crashing down. I would like people to understand that the effect of child abuse can be completely insidious,’ he said.

‘I was a high-achieving person whose life unravelled and it ended my career.’

The $1.5million payout plus legal costs takes into account his loss of earnings and the psychological injuries incurred during his time at the school.

‘While the memories will never leave me and as painful as it was, it was a journey I had to take to try and heal,’ the plaintiff said.

‘I can’t tell you how relieved I feel now this part of the journey is over. I feel totally vindicated.’

Former Christian Brother Stephen Farrell tries to cover his face as he leaves the Melbourne Magistrate Court in Melbourne, Friday, February 16, 2018