Cardinal Pell in court: A ‘momentous’ day for sex abuse survivors

CARDINAL George Pell has said he is looking forward to it — and he’s not the only one. Abuse survivors have been waiting years for this day to come.

Cardinal George Pell will face Melbourne Magistrates Court today. Picture: Gregorio Borgia/AP

FOR Ballarat sex abuse survivor Phil Nagle, it’s a momentous day.

The 53-year-old has made the journey from his hometown to Melbourne and he’ll this morning head to the Melbourne Magistrates Court where Cardinal George Pell is due to answer historic sexual offence charges.

The powerful clergyman and senior Vatican figure is expected to be met by crowds of survivors and advocates, and a throng of local and international media, when he arrives for the filing hearing.

Mr Nagle has no links to the complaints against Cardinal Pell. Still, he says the court appearance is something he and others have been “waiting many years for”.

He says he’ll be in court to support the complainants, and hopes to see them and their claims respected by the court and by Pell’s legal team.

Cardinal George Pell arrives, surrounded by Victorian Police officers at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Abuse survivor Phil Nagle says he has been waiting for this day ‘for years’. Picture: David Mirzoeff/i-Images

“We are certainly very concerned about the claimants,” he told news.com.au.

“As a former complainant and as a survivor, it takes a lot of courage.

“We’d also like to see the accused, Cardinal Pell, and his team handle the complainants and their claims in a respectful manner.”

The Ballarat man was among Catholic Church sex abuse survivors who travelled to Rome and met with the Cardinal after he fronted the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse via video link.

Cardinal Pell did not return to Australia for the Royal Commission, with his doctors saying he was too sick to travel.

He arrived in Sydney on July 10 ahead of Wednesday’s court appearance, after following his doctors’ advice to avoid taking a long-haul flight from Rome to Australia due to his heart condition.

Mr Nagle said the Cardinal’s Melbourne court appearance would make for a “huge day” for the survivors and advocates he’ll be joined by.

Cardinal George Pell will become the most senior Catholic to face charges over sexual offences. Picture: Riccardo De Luca/AP

“The Royal Commission will decide what he did or didn’t know, and the court will decide what he did and didn’t do,” he said. “We are pleased that these questions will be answered.”

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly rejected the allegations and maintains he is innocent.

“News of these charges strengthens my resolve and court proceedings now offer me an opportunity to clear my name and then return to my work in Rome,” he said after being charged on June 29.

The 76-year-old has taken leave from his position as prefect for the Secretariat for the Economy to return to Australia to clear his name, saying he is looking forward to finally having his day in court after a two-year investigation.

The filing hearing is expected to attract international media attention, however it is understood no special arrangements have been made for his appearance in court.

The hearing is the first stage of what will likely be a lengthy legal process — an administrative procedure to set the next court dates. The appearance could take only a few minutes.

Media had already begun to gather outside the Magistrate’s Court well before sunrise awaiting the Cardinal’s arrival.

Cardinal Pell’s matter is expected to be come before a magistrate at 10am.