Two men who accused Cardinal George Pell of abuse say they are ‘over the moon’ about charges
EXCLUSIVE: CARDINAL George Pell’s accusers say they are “elated” over a decision to lay charges for sex offences allegedly committed more than two decades ago.
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- Pell to fight sex offence charges
- Cardinal ‘co-operating’ with police
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- What Pell charges mean for the church
TWO men who made abuse allegations against Cardinal George Pell say they are “over the moon” about the decision to lay charges.
But their lawyer has told the Herald Sun they were not confident the case would be successful.
The two men made their statements to police more than two years ago.
They alleged Pell committed sexual offences against them several decades ago.
Their lawyer, Ingrid Irwin, said today the men were “over the moon” with Victoria Police’s decision to lay charges over historical sex claims against Cardinal Pell.
Ms Irwin said some charges laid were in relation to her clients.
But she said she was unaware of the exact number of charges or how they were worded.
Ms Irwin said her clients received no notice that charges were to be laid.
She said she had warned the men there was a chance Cardinal Pell would not be convicted over their allegations.
“Naturally anybody with any knowledge of how the criminal process works, particularly of historical sexual abuse cases, knows there’s many in-built buffers to the accused to make it virtually impossible to get success,” she said.
“I can’t see why they won’t play out again, particularly when you get a client as high profile as George Pell.”
Ms Irwin said it had been a long wait for her clients since they first went public with their claims.
“It’s been very difficult for them to stick their neck out,” she said.
“To come out against someone who is second to God, in some people’s minds, has caused all sorts of problems for them.”
She said while the men had struggled with the delay in laying charges, they were happy with the conduct of Victoria Police.
“While I am extremely elated with the decision of Victoria Police to charge Pell, I am acutely aware for it to actually run it’s course it may not actually produce the results they’re thinking,” Ms Irwin said.
“Pell’s legal team are going to throw everything they can at this.
“It’s important for them to be realistic and to understand, this case may not net the result they are hoping for.”
‘WE DIDN’T THINK THIS DAY WOULD EVER COME’
Clergy sexual abuse survivor Andrew Collins said news that Cardinal George Pell had finally been charged was something he never thought he would hear.
“We didn’t think this day would ever come,” Mr Collins said.
The 46-year-old was sexually abused by four different men at Ballarat schools and churches during his teenage years and said the announcement was a step toward healing.
“Cardinal Pell … is one of the most powerful men on the earth,” Mr Collins said.
“The fact that someone like (Pell) can be charged is such an encouraging sign,” he said.
Mr Collins said today’s revelations that Australia’s most senior Catholic figure was facing abuse charges would mean a difficult time for the Catholic Church and Ballarat community.
“It’s something that needed to happen … but it’s not going to be a happy time for anyone,” he said.
“George Pell is an icon in Ballarat. For a local boy to go so far … it’s very sad that’s he’s in this position now and if he’s found guilty it will be very sad for a lot of people,” he said.
Mr Collins spoke to the Herald Sun at the unveiling Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson’s portrait at the Town Hall in Ballarat.
Detective Sergeant Carson was honoured for his ongoing work in the Ballarat Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team which included his investigations into notorious paedophile and Christian Brother, Robert Charles Best.
Detective Sergeant Carson declined to make comment on the charges against Cardinal Pell because he said he feared it would jeopardise the future trial.
The senior detective said he had to abandon his prepared speech for the unveiling ceremony because he did not want to risk interfering with the court case.
When asked how the town would respond to the news that their most senior clergy figure had been charged, Detective Carson said, “Ballarat has been hurt.”