‘Visionary' youth service founder dies age 70
The Catholic Priest was best known for his work as the founder of Youth Off the Streets in Sydney.
His death was announced on the service's Instagram page on Friday afternoon, following a 'long period of ill health'.
NSW Premier Chris Minns marked his death with 'profound sadness', noting his 'visionary' work had 'changed the lives of tens of thousands of young people across New South Wales'.
'In founding Youth Off The Streets in 1991, he turned a single food van in Kings Cross into a lifesaving network of crisis accommodation, counselling and other wrap around support services,' Mr Minns said.
'Father Riley believed there is no child born bad, only circumstances to overcome, and he spent over three decades proving that with compassion and opportunity young lives can be transformed.'
More to come.
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