Former choirboy’s father sues George Pell, Catholic Church

A man who claims his son — a former choir boy — was abused by George Pell has launched civil action in a bid to sue the Catholic Church.

George Pell and the Catholic Church are being sued by the father of a former choirboy.

The father of a former choir boy, who prosecutors claim was sexually abused by George Pell, will front court on Thursday as he attempts to sue the Catholic Church.

Pell was sensationally acquitted and walked free from prison in 2020 after the High Court unanimously quashed earlier convictions for child sexual assault.

In 2018, Pell had been found guilty by a Victorian jury of abusing two teenage choirboys in the mid 1990s.

One of those choirboys, known only as Witness J, testified against Pell over claims he and another boy were abused in the sacristy of St Patrick’s Cathedral after Sunday mass in 1996.

The second choirboy died from an accidental drug overdose in 2014, having never made a complaint against Pell.

The deceased man’s father is pursuing a civil case against the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Cardinal Pell

The case is listed for a directions hearing in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday.

The deceased man’s father is not identified and listed as a pseudonym.

Pope Francis with George Pell after the cardinal returned to the Vatican in late 2020.

Speaking outside the Old High Court on Thursday morning, Shine Lawyers’ chief legal officer Lisa Flynn, who is acting on behalf of the father, said it was too early to speak about the details of the case but acknowledged there were “different paths” to justice.

“We’re here for the father of a deceased son, a son who our client alleges suffered sexual abuse at the hands of the church when he was a boy,” she said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say to survivors of sexual abuse that we will not stop fighting for you.

“Yours is a deep pain that is caused by the darkest of evils, and we will not stop fighting and seeking justice for survivors of abuse.”

When asked why civil action was being launched in light of Pell’s acquittal on criminal charges, Ms Flynn said: “There are different paths to justice and different avenues that survivors of abuse have.”

Ms Flynn said she could not outline the damages sought by her client but that he had suffered “significant psychological harm”.

“Our client’s been through a lot, he’s lost a child which is horrific for any parent to have to go through but learning the circumstances in relation to what happened to him has been very difficult for him,” she said.

Shine Lawyers chief legal officer Lisa Flynn outside the Old High Court. Picture: David Crosling

George Pell arriving at court for his trial in Melbourne in 2019.

During a brief administrative hearing at the Supreme Court, legal counsel representing the father — known by the pseudonym RWQ — and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne set a timeline for future court dates.

Justice Michael McDonald ordered submissions to be filed by July 28 and he set a next hearing date of August 4.

The Herald Sun in 2020 reported the father was pursuing a civil claim against Pell.

The father’s lawyer previously told the Herald Sun his client had been left shocked by the High Court decision and lost all faith in the criminal justice system.

“He is furious the man he believes is responsible for sexually abusing his son was convicted by a unanimous jury only to have that decision overturned,” his lawyer said.

“He is heartbroken for the surviving victim who stuck his neck out by coming forward to tell his story, but was ultimately let down by a legal process that forced him to relive his pain and trauma for no benefit.”

Pell has always maintained his innocence.