I just hope this is all over now: George Pell’s victims react to cardinal’s failed appeal

As George Pell learned his appeal had failed, his relieved victim just hoped a four-year battle was over.

Lawyer Lisa Flynn, who is representing the family of one of George Pell's victims, talks to the media after the Victorian Supreme Court dismissed Pell’s appeal following his conviction for child sexual assault. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty

The surviving victim of George Pell’s abuse at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral hopes the matter will end with yesterday’s Victoria Court of Appeal decision.

The former choirboy, who along with another boy was ­assaulted by Pell more than 20 years ago, said he recently became a father and needed “to define ­myself away from all of this”.

“The criminal process has been stressful,” he said in a statement released by his lawyer, Vivian Waller. “The journey has taken me to places that, in my darkest moments, I feared I could not return from. The justice machine rolls on with all of its processes and pun­ditry, almost forgetting about the people at the heart of the matter.

“Despite this, I appreciate that the criminal process afforded Pell every opportunity to challenge the charges and to be heard. I am glad he had the best legal representation money can buy. There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the ­appeal process is one of them.

“I just hope that it is all over now.”

He said he felt compelled to report the matter after the other choirboy died in 2014.

“I gave a statement to police ­because I was thinking of him and his family,” he said.

“I felt I should say what I saw and what happened to me. I had experienced something terrible as a child, something that marked my life.

“I wanted at least some good to come of it.”

The father of the deceased former choirboy, who has launched a civil claim over his son’s abuse, shed tears of relief inside the crowded courtroom.

“I’m sad my son’s not here to see it,” the father said.

“I'm really happy for the other victim, I’m really happy for him.

“(For) myself, that was a great load lifted off my shoulders … ­almost like somebody was massaging my shoulders and the knot came out.

“It’s not going to bring him back but to get a verdict like that is absolutely amazing.”

The deceased’s father said yesterday’s verdict vindicated the lives of the former choirboys, who were 13 when they were assaulted.

“Something must have happened to those boys because my son suffered a lot of torment,” he said. “It destroyed my marriage, it destroyed my ex-wife’s life and my daughter’s … and my son, of course.”

His son’s friend and fellow victim was not in court.

The man said the abuse had “battered” his faith but not ­destroyed it.

“Some commentators have suggested that I reported to the police somehow for my own personal gain,” he said.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. I have risked my privacy, my health, my wellbeing, my family. I have not instructed any solicitor in relation to a claim for compensation. This is not about money, and never has been.

“I would like to acknowledge my friend who passed away, the other choirboy, and pay my deep respect to him and to his family.

“I would like to acknowledge the courage of those people who reported to the police. For one reason or another, your cases were not advanced. My heart goes out to all of you.”

VICTIM’S FULL STATEMENT:

“I am relieved at the decision of the Court of Appeal.

It is four years since I reported to the police. The criminal process has been stressful. The journey has taken me to places that, in my darkest moments, I feared I could not return from. The justice machine rolls on with all of its processes and punditry, almost forgetting about the people at the heart of the matter.

Despite this, I appreciate that the criminal process afforded Pell every opportunity to challenge the charges and to be heard. I am glad he had the best legal representation money can buy. There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the appeal process is one of them.

I just hope that it is all over now.

Some commentators have suggested that I reported to the police somehow for my own person gain. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have risked my privacy, my health, my wellbeing, my family. I have not instructed any solicitor in relation to a claim for compensation. This is not about money and never has been.

Some commentators have suggested that I am somehow out to cause damage to the

Catholic Church. I’m not on a mission to do anybody any harm. Although my faith has taken a battering it is still a part of my life, and part of the lives of my loved ones.

I am not an advocate. You wouldn’t know my name. I am not a champion for the cause of sexual abuse survivors, although I am glad those advocates are out there. But that is not my path.

After attending the funeral of my childhood friend, the other choirboy, I felt a responsibility to come forward. I knew he had been in a dark place. I was in a dark place. I gave a statement to the police because I was thinking of him and his family. I felt l should say what I saw and what happened to me. I had experienced something terrible as a child, something

that marked my life. I wanted at least some good to come of it.

I would like to acknowledge my friend who passed away, the other choirboy, and pay my deep respect to him and to his family. I would like to acknowledge the courage of those people who reported to the police. For one reason or another, your cases were not advanced. My heart goes out to all of you.

I would like to acknowledge the Victoria Police and the Office of Public Prosecutions. I am grateful for the steady hand of His Honour Chief Judge Kidd in guiding the trial and his compassionate, balanced and fair sentencing.

In February, due to other cases not going ahead, I ended up in the spotlight alone. The suppression order was to be lifted and I suddenly found myself at the centre of worldwide media interest.

I asked Viv Waller to help me to manage the considerable media interest in the case and to protect my identity and my family. I could not afford legal representation but that did not matter to her. I will be forever grateful that Viv agreed to help me and to do so for free. She has liaised with the media on my behalf. She has allowed the storms of public opinion to buffet her so that my young family could find safe harbour.

My journey has not been an easy one. It has been all the more stressful because the case involved a high-profile figure. I thank the media for respecting my privacy and for continuing to protect my identity

I need to be able to define myself away from all of this. Recently I have started a new

chapter in my life as a father. The experiences have been through have helped me

understand what is truly important.

I am grateful for a legal system that everyone can believe in, where everybody is equal before the law and no one is above the law.”

George Pell leaves the Court of Appeal to be returned to jail. Picture: Alex Coppel