George Pell case: Father’s verdict: ‘devastating in so many ways’

The father of one of the choirboys George Pell was found guilty in 2018 of abusing is ‘gutted’ by the High Court overturning the conviction.

St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.

The father of one of the choirboys Cardinal George Pell was found guilty in 2018 of abusing is “gutted” by the shock decision by the High Court to overturn the conviction.

The man said sexual assaults often took place without any witnesses and condemned the impact of the legal process on the surviving choirboy, who gave evidence. “To ridicule (the former choirboy), to me is disrespectful,” he said.

The two boys were allegedly assaulted­ by the then archbishop Pell in the priests’ sacristy at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in December 1996.

Cardinal Pell was convicted by a jury and the decision upheld by a majority of the Victorian Court of Appeal before being quashed by the High Court on Tuesday.

“I’m just lost for words. I’m just disgusted,” the father said. “I’m amazed, the whole judicial system has fallen over … This is devastating in so many ways.”

The man said he was worried about the impact of the judgment on other abuse survivors. “This is going to frighten so many victims,” he said. “Why would you come forward if you were going to get ridiculed­ at the end of the day.”

The father also criticised the judges of the High Court for interrupting Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd QC as much as they did. “The prosecution wasn’t given the right of response, and that’s my opinion,” he said.

The chief executive of victim advocacy group In Good Faith Foundation, Clare Leaney, said she thought many people had expecte­d Tuesday’s decision.

“Unfortunately that’s not lessened the shock that’s reverberated through the community,” she said. “While I hold the deepest respect for the High Court, (Tuesday’s) decision is really a disappointing result. Shockwaves are going to continue to be felt in the weeks and months ahead.”

Ms Leaney said she thought victims would continue to contact the police or support organisations such as hers, despite the verdict.

“I know of many other indiv­iduals going through different ­justice pathways of their own,” she said. “It’s not slowed or stopped.”

Ms Leaney said every individual’s story was different and it was important for them to know that they were seen, heard and most importantly believed as they went through the legal process.

“I would encourage everyone to look at every avenue of justice that is open to them,” she said. Ms Leaney said people were incredibly strong to get through the entire­ legal process.

Worldwide advocacy network SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) said they were disappointed that Cardinal Pell would be released from prison and his conviction quashed. “In this case, the powerful have won and the prize is the continuation of the church’s tradition of abuse obfuscatio­n and minimisation,” SNAP said in a statement.

“Our hearts ache for the surviving victim of Cardinal Pell and we hope that this disappointing ruling does not deter other victims from coming forward to report their abuse.”

SNAP said it believed that the High Court’s ruling would make others lose their faith in the criminal justice system and send the message that survivors should stay hidden and silent rather than come forward and seek justice.

“Hopefully survivors in Aus­tralia will not despair but continue to come forward and make reports to law enforcement in the hopes that their allegations are taken more seriously,” the advocacy ­network said.

SNAP Australia co-ordinator Steven Spaner said victims would interpret the High Court judgment as a failure in the system.

“(They'll see there’s) no reason to come forward, no reason to seek help, and (will) just suffer," Mr ­Spaner said. "It was hoped by all of the survivors that the court would hold up the justice system."