Victoria police set up ‘Get Pell’ unit year ahead of charges, court told

Victoria Police set up an operation more than a year before any complaints were received about him, a court has heard.

Victoria police set up a ‘Get Pell’ unit, a court has been told. Picture: AAP

Lawyers for Cardinal George Pell have claimed Victoria Police set up a “Get Pell” operation at least a year before any complaints were received about him, a court has heard.

Robert Richter QC this morning questioned Detective Superintendent Paul Sheridan about Operation Tethering which began in March 2013 despite no allegations concerning Cardinal Pell having been received.

Detective Superintendent Paul Sheridan said it was an “intel probe” to see whether there were unreported serious crimes.

“Operation Tethering, that wasn’t a ‘get Pell’ operation was it?” Mr Richter asked.

Supt Sheridan responded: “I guess you could term it the way you did but I wouldn’t term it that way”.

Cardinal Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking catholic, is charged with historical sex offences relating to multiple complainants.

The court has previously heard some of the allegations relating to Cardinal Pell are specific in location and time but Mr Richter this morning said police did not ask for the cardinal’s diaries which recorded his movements.

“The fact is search warrants were executed and nobody looked for his diaries,” Mr Richter said.

Supt Sheridan said he would be “surprised” if police had not tried to get Cardinal Pell’s diaries or similar material.

“You would be affronted,” Mr Richter said.

“I would be wanting to know the reason why,” Supt Sheridan said.

“I would be surprised if no search inquiries were made to try and verify times, dates,” he said.

Mr Richter also questioned why police didn’t speak to more witnesses to try and corroborate the accusations.

“If they’re tunnel visioned and determined to proceed to charges they wouldn’t turn their minds to the sort of questions that might show it didn’t happen,” he said.

“It would be horrible if an investigator didn’t decide to pursue obvious lines of questioning if his afraid the answer might destroy his case.”

Mr Richter cross examined Supt Sheridan about the police interview with Cardinal Pell in Rome in October 2016, after one of the alleged victims had made a statement detailing an allegation while the then archbishop was in full regalia.

“Did nobody have a look at the cardinal’s vestments from your taskforce?” Mr Richter said.

Supt Sheridan said he would have expected investigators to look at the robes in some way, shape or form.

The court has previously heard one of the allegations concerns offending at a regional cinema during a screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Mr Richter said the complainant had reported three subsequent allegations which hinged on the date the film was screened.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington said she thought the evidence about the film’s screening was “more equivocal” than put by Mr Richter.

“I’m entitled your honour to put it as established because the records are there,” Mr Richter said.

“I apply that your honour disqualifies herself from further hearings of this matter on the basis of a biased view of the evidence,” he said.

“Your application is refused,” Ms Wallington said.

The hearing continues.