Doors open to public in George Pell court case
THE DOORS have been opened to the public in the preliminary court hearing over historical sexual offence allegations against Cardinal George Pell.
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THE DOORS have been opened to the public in the preliminary court hearing over historical sexual offence allegations against Cardinal George Pell.
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The hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court began on Monday last week but had been held behind closed doors while alleged victims gave their evidence.
It was a dramatic opening, with the Cardinal’s barrister Robert Richter QC, tearing shreds off a church abuse researcher.
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Broken Rites researcher Dr Bernard Barrett was branded a “disgrace” by Mr Richter after he repeatedly refused to answer questions.
Mr Richter accused the retired academic of attempting to get a “feather in his cap” by going to police himself with allegations against Cardinal Pell.
Dr Barrett denied the allegation.
“Not really. It’s not my concern. It’s up to the complainants,” he said.
Dr Barrett had made a statement to police in June 2015 outlining everything he knew about an alleged victim of the Cardinal, but made no mention of the Cardinal himself.
He made the statement after the man’s mother made contact with the organisation about allegations her son had made about another priest, who had since died.
It is understood the man later went on to make an allegation against Cardinal Pell.
The court heard Dr Barrett suggested to the man that he himself go direct to police with the allegation.
Mr Richter alleged he made the offer for no other reason but to “big note” himself to detectives at Taskforce Sano, which was established to investigate historic and new allegations into sexual offences involving religious and non-government organisations.
“Wrong,” Dr Barrett replied.
Dr Barrett claimed he didn’t name the Cardinal in his police statement because he believed it was a matter for the alleged victim.
A second witness, who cannot be named, told the court he learnt his son was an alleged victim of the Cardinal only after he died of a drug overdose in 2014.
The man said his son maintained he only ever used the addictive drug because he liked it and he was shocked to learn from police about the allegations upon his son’s death.
“He never hinted that something was going on,” he said.
The hearing continues.