Mother of alleged George Pell victim withdrew consent for Louise Milligan interview, court hears

Alleged Cardinal Pell victim ruled medically unfit to give evidence as court hears ABC journalist published account without consent.

ABC journalist and author Louise Milligan published a book about Cardinal George Pell.

One of Cardinal George Pell’s alleged victims is medically unfit to give evidence and six charges against the cardinal will be withdrawn, a court has heard.

Cardinal Pell is charged with historical sex charges relating to multiple complainants and is appearing before a committal hearing to determine whether he will stand trial.

This afternoon prosecutor Mark Gibson SC told the court one of the cardinal’s accusers, who has yet to give evidence was “medically unfit”.

Mr Gibson offered to provide the court with a medical certificate and asked to withdraw the alleged vicitm’s police statement.

“I would ask for the charge to be struck out,” Cardinal Pell’s barrister Robert Richter QC said.

The six charges relating to the complainant will be formally withdrawn next week.

Earlier, the court heard ABC journalist and author Louise Milligan interviewed the mother of one of Cardinal Pell’s alleged victims and published parts of the interview in her book despite the mother withdrawing consent.

The woman was questioned today in Melbourne Magistrates Court about whether her son had disclosed any sexual offending by Cardinal Pell before he died.

Cardinal Pell is charged with historical sexual offending in relation to multiple complainants and is appearing before the court in a committal hearing to determine whether he will stand trial.

The court heard Milligan made contact with the woman’s daughter online but the woman did not recall how Milligan would have known their surname.

Cardinal Pell’s barrister Ruth Shann said the interview with the ABC took place in 2016 but the mother later contacted Milligan to withdraw consent for the interview to be aired or details published.

“Are you aware of details of what you said were published in the book?” Ms Shann asked.

“Did you explain to Ms Milligan at the time you withdrew consent for publication that if it was published you feared it would taint any criminal proceedings?”

“That is correct,” the woman told the court.

She said she was “shocked” to receive a phone call from police about her son and allegations of sexual offending.

“You initially thought the detective referred to [your son] assaulting someone and that had to be clarified?” Ms Shann said.

Milligan is scheduled to give evidence to the hearing next week but her evidence has been delayed after she handed over her subpoenaed notes in “unreadable” shorthand.

The hearing continues.