CARDINAL George Pell tried to bribe Gerald Ridsdale's nephew when he first disclosed he had been abused by his uncle, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard.
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"My response was 'f... you George and everything you stand for'"
Giving evidence at the commission, David Ridsdale said he finally told long-time family friend George Pell he had been raped by his uncle in 1993.
He said Cardinal Pell said: "What will it take to keep you quiet?"
"My response was 'f... you George and everything you stand for'," he said.
Full coverage of the Royal Commission:
Mr Ridsdale then rang his sisters and said: "The bastard tried to bribe me."
He also said he didn't know which was worse – bring assaulted by his uncle or Cardinal Pell's reaction to it.
Justice McClellan said the commission would investigate Mr Ridsdale's allegations.
Peter Gray, a counsel assisting church witnesses, said Cardinal Pell's recollection of the telephone call with Mr Ridsdale was completely different.
