Vic bishop's knowledge of child abuse

VICTORIAN BISHOP RONALD MULKEARNS KNEW ABOUT PEDOPHILE PRIESTS

RESPONSIBILITY IN BALLARAT

* Ballarat bishop from 1971 until 1997 retirement

* Responsible for Ballarat diocese, covering western third of Victoria

WHAT MULKEARNS KNEW

* Knew about priest Gerald Ridsdale's offending in 1975; didn't suspend him until 1988

* Moved Ridsdale between parishes

* Destroyed psychologists' documents from Ridsdale's file

* Convicted pedophile priest Paul David Ryan, 67, says Mulkearns knew about him in 1977 and "buried his head in the sand" about sexual abuse in Ballarat diocese

WHAT MULKEARNS SAID

* Wanted to protect church's reputation

* Denied trying to cover up widespread abuse

* Retired early because not handling pedophilia in diocese as well as should have

* Tried to get treatment for priests over incidents he knew about

* "I can only say that I'm terribly sorry for the fact that I didn't act differently in the interests of everybody."