George Pell’s accuser breaks silence after cardinal walks free
George Pell’s choirboy accuser has broken his silence after the cardinal was sensationally acquitted and walked free from prison. The father of the other choirboy also spoke out, revealing his fury over the shock ruling.
Police & Courts
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The man who says George Pell sexually abused him says he is glad the drawn-out criminal proceedings are finally over.
The man, known only as witness J, testified against Pell over claims he was abused while a choirboy at St Patrick’s Cathedral after Sunday mass in 1996.
Witness J said he and another choirboy, who has since died, were drinking altar wine in the sacristy when Pell found them and assaulted them.
He said Pell also abused him on a subsequent occasion.
Pell was convicted of five charges over the allegations, following two County Court trials, before those convictions were quashed by the High Court.
In a statement released to the media just after midnight, Witness J, through his lawyers, said he respected the decision of the High Court.
“I understand their view that there was not enough evidence to satisfy the court beyond reasonable doubt that the offending occurred,” he said.
“I understand that the High Court is saying that the prosecution did not make out the case to the required standard of proof.
“There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the appeal process is one of them. I respect that.”
Witness J said meeting the criminal standard of proof was a heavy burden and said the system was stacked against complainants.
“The price we pay for weighing the system in favour of the accused is that many sexual offences against children go unpunished,” he said.
“That’s why it remains important that everyone who can report to the police does so.
“I would hate to think that one outcome of this case is that people are discouraged from reporting to the police.
“I would like to reassure child sexual abuse survivors that most people recognise the truth when they hear it. They know the truth when they look it in the face.”
The identity of Witness J cannot legally be revealed.
“My journey has been long and I am relieved that it is over,” he said.
“I have my ups and downs. The darkness is never far away. This case does not define me. I am not the abuse I suffered as a child.
“I am a man who came forward for my friend who sadly is no longer with us. I am a man doing my best to be a loving dad, partner, son, brother and friend.”
The father of the other choirboy is pursuing a civil claim against George Pell.
He was left shocked by the High Court decision and said he had 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.”
Sex abuse victims advocate Chrissie Foster, whose daughters were abused by Catholic priests, described the decision as “devastating”
“It’s a terrible shock, they got the guilty verdict, they went through all the process, that was the verdict we had and it was upheld and now it means nothing,” she said.
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