ABC journo to dictate Pell notes

ABC journalist Louise Milligan has been ordered to read her “unreadable” personal, shorthand notes from alleged victims of George Pell.

ABC journalist notes have been declared “unreadable” by Pell’s lawyers.

ABC journalist and author Louise Milligan has been ordered to dictate her shorthand notes from alleged victims of Cardinal George Pell after his lawyers told a court they were “unreadable”.

Milligan’s notes were subpoenaed by Cardinal Pell’s lawyers for his committal hearing on historical sex offences relating to multiple complainants.

Robert Richter QC, representing Cardinal Pell, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning that the notes Milligan provided were in her own style of shorthand.

“When it was delivered to us we found it was unusable,” he said.

“We have no way of seeing what she recorded with very relevant people.”

Mr Richter said Milligan had been asked to dictate the notes which would be transcribed by the defence instead of “wasting time” in court by being asked to read her notes aloud next week when she is listed to give evidence.

He said Milligan’s representative Jack Rush QC had responded by saying Milligan was “too busy” to dictate her notes.

“What we wanted was to recruit your honour’s status in mentioning to someone who’s a Walkley Award winner for all their work in this matter... that it would assist the court enormously in not wasting the time of dozens of people,” he said.

Mr Richter said reading the notes in court was not in the interests of the administration of justice.

“[I] hope she has the administration of justice in mind not just the fact that she has written a book,” he said.

He said the notes extended to well over 100 pages.

“[Milligan] should be told that the time would be taken because it has to be taken in fairness to the accused,” Mr Richter said.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson SC said the prosecution joined the defence’s application as it would save time.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington said she would ask Milligan to read the notes onto a tape given the fact they were supplied under subpoena and were “unreadable”.

Cardinal Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic, is appearing before the court in a committal hearing which will determine if he stands trial.

This morning the court heard evidence from two men who described playing games with the cardinal at a pool where he would throw them into the water from his shoulders, under the armpits or by cupping his hands underwater and launching the men by the feet out of the water.

Gerard Murphy told the court he was never told of “something unusual” happening in the pool change rooms.

The hearing continues.