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Abuse victims determined to see Cardinal George Pell in court
By Tessa Akerman
Catholic Church abuse victims from across Victoria — with no connection to the charges against George Pell — are expected to attend a court hearing for the cardinal at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning. Philip Nagle, a Ballarat survivor of abuse by Christian Brother Stephen Farrell in the 1970s, had promised other survivors he would attend. Cardinal Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic, was charged last month with historical sex offences relating to multiple complainants. The court has yet to release the charges. Mr Nagle said he wanted to see the complainants and their claims handled in a respectful way. He said it was important to make sure it was a just court case. He said it did not matter that the hearing might only last a few minutes . “(It’s important) to witness it,” he said. The Melbourne Magistrates Court has said it will be “business as usual” during the cardinal’s first court appearance. Yesterday the allocated courtroom which will be standing room only today, was nearly empty, with fewer than a dozen people present, including the magistrate and clerk. Magistrate Fiona Stewart presided over brief filing hearings and called upon lawyers to raise their voices. “You need to keep your voice up in here, the acoustics are shocking,” she said. She also derided the court’s computer system, Courtlink, which will be used to keep track of Cardinal Pell’s case. The first row of the courtroom’s seats have been reserved for the parties and legal representatives involved in the matter, leaving just 37 seats for the public and media. The case has attracted worldwide attention and journalists from US, European and Asian-based outlets are expected to cover today’s hearing. The magistrates court has advised that standing will be permitted in the room if all seats are occupied. Today’s hearing will fix the date for a committal mention and for service by prosecutors to Cardinal Pell’s lawyers of the hand-up brief, which consists of all the witness statements and copies of exhibits.
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