PELL Lawyers to Question Abuse Victims

9 News
November 18, 2015

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/11/19/18/25/pell-lawyers-to-question-abuse-victims

Cardinal George Pell's decision to bring in the "big guns" to question victims of pedophile priests could pave the way for stronger grilling of senior church officials.

Cardinal Pell's own legal team at the child abuse royal commission's Melbourne hearing will cross-examine victims, in direct opposition to the Catholic Church's stance that it will not question abuse survivors.

That was actually a good move as it meant Cardinal Pell would be cross-examined as well, victims' group Broken Rites spokesman Wayne Chamley said.

Church officials were not cross-examined during the first public hearing into Ballarat abuse in May due to the church decision not to question victim witnesses, he said.

"Because there was that stand-off it meant no one was cross-examined including senior people, but this time round they'll be cross-examined," Dr Chamley said.

He also said Cardinal Pell had hired a top-level QC.

"He's bringing in the big guns."

Francis Sullivan, chief executive of the Catholic Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council, said the council's position remained that it would not cross-examine victim witnesses.

Cardinal Pell, now the Vatican's financial chief, said the TJHC and its lawyers represented church institutions and not individuals.

"Given the claims that have been made, it was agreed that Cardinal Pell should have his own lawyers to assist him in responding to these claims," a statement from Cardinal Pell's office said.

"It is basic fairness, and part of the procedural requirements of the royal commission, that Cardinal Pell has an opportunity to test the evidence of witnesses who have made allegations about him."

The statement said it was inflammatory, insensitive and inappropriate to say the lawyers would be "grilling witnesses" since, as Cardinal Pell had told the commission, he was concerned for their health and wellbeing.

The two Ballarat victims to be recalled by Cardinal Pell's lawyers told the commission in May that they were prepared to be cross-examined, but church counsel said no victim witnesses would be questioned to avoid exacerbating their distress.

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied claims by David Ridsdale, a nephew and victim of pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale, that he tried to bribe him to keep quiet and by another survivor Timothy Green that he ignored his complaint that schoolboys were being abused.

Ballarat victim Stephen Woods believed hiring lawyers undermined Cardinal Pell's representation as a spiritual person.

"He can't have it both ways - either he's a spiritual person who will tell the truth no matter what or he hires a $20,000 a day-plus lawyer to make everything he says sound normal," Mr Woods said.

"It's reinforcing this concept that we, the victims, are the ones to be feared."

The Ballarat inquiry resumes around December 7, after a public hearing into the Melbourne archdiocese that starts on Tuesday. Cardinal Pell gives evidence during the December 14 week.