At the scene: George Pell leaves abuse survivors unconvinced after first royal commission hearing

By Lisa Millar
ABC News
February 28, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-29/george-pell-leaves-abuse-survivors-unconvinced/7207726

Abuse survivor Peter Blenkiron travelled to Rome to hear Cardinal George Pell speak.

Cardinal George Pell (right) leaves the Hotel Quirinale

Cardinal George Pell's testimony to the royal commission in Rome left abuse survivors slightly mollified, but ultimately unconvinced. Lisa Millar reports from the Hotel Quirinale.

After so much anticipation, it was hardly surprising that the hearing began in such a dramatic fashion.

Three hours before his evidence was due to start, Cardinal George Pell was driven to the side entrance of the Hotel Quirinale, where a cameraman and reporter trying to film his arrival were treated roughly by security.

The scuffle threatened to overshadow the start of this unusual session.

The Royal Commission has heard from witnesses before via videolink, but never under these kind of circumstances — in a hotel on the other side of the world, with 120 people in the audience who were not seen or heard from because of a ban on filming or photographs.

They remarked that Cardinal Pell had not acknowledged them as he entered the room. His mind was probably focused on the table on the side where he sat facing a video screen.

Counsel assisting the royal commission Gail Furness got straight into detailed questions.

The room was warm but Cardinal Pell's voice came through loud and clear.

By 11:00pm some of the survivors were starting to leave the room, for a cigarette, a bathroom break or simply to clear their minds.

During the one break they told media they were not hearing much they had not heard before.

By 1:30am Cardinal Pell showed signs of irritation at a string of questions asking if he had heard various rumours about offending priests.

By the time they broke at 2:00am survivors were slightly more mollified by what they had heard, but were not completely convinced.

Camera crews stood in the pouring rain waiting for his departure.

It was around 3:00am before Cardinal Pell left the hotel, climbing into a waiting car.

After talking for four hours he still had a few words when asked whether he had a message for the victims.

"I hope we can help them," he said before being whisked away.

Everyone will hit the "repeat" button tomorrow.