Victims applaud justice as

Victims of child sexual abuse have welcomed the Victorian Supreme Court’s decision to reject George Pell’s appeal.

Supporters of abuse victims are seen outside the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne, Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Cardinal George Pell's appeal has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal and he will remain in prison. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

Screams of joy erupted outside Victoria’s Supreme Court when news broke that George Pell would not be walking out the front door a free man, with the appeal decision welcomed by organisations supporting victims of abuse.

Long-time abuse victims’ advocate Chrissie Foster emerged from court smiling to say the 2-1 verdict proved no one was untouchable before the law: “This is a very high-profile, very powerful person. In the church, in the Vatican, surrounded by all of that, and how much money he has, he’s got the power, the best defence money could buy. Yet that did not convince the jury to find him innocent.

“To have that upheld is just outstanding.”

She said questions now had to be asked about the Melbourne Response compensation scheme, of which Pell was an architect.

“We’re looking at a system that was put in place by a pedophile. What would be his motive behind it?” she said.

“When he put this system in, we thought he’s protecting the church. But he’s put the system in, where he offended against children, so he’s putting in a system that’s not only protecting the church assets but also protecting his own criminal history.”

Robert House, from the Care Leavers Australia Network, said the decision meant victims were ­finally being delivered after living decades in silence.

“We were for decades not believed and now we are believed and that is wonderful,” he said.

A spokesman for The Blue Knot Foundation said the conviction being upheld would restore people’s faith in the justice system: “For survivors, a conviction being upheld against a high-profile once powerful perpetrator underlines faith in the justice process and the possibility of speaking out.”

Michael Advocate, a victims’ abuse advocate who uses a pseudonym, used a megaphone to express his joy to commuters on Lonsdale Street: “All I can say is I may not be smiling but I’m laughing on the inside because justice has been served.”

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests spokesman Steven Spaner said he hoped the Appeal Court judgment would encourage other church abuse victims to come forward, find help and start healing: “We also call upon all priests, nuns, prelates and other lay people in the church that have witnessed Cardinal Pell’s behaviour to follow Pope Francis’s new motu proprio and report any suspicions about abuse they have.”