Why the ABC's reporting of the George Pell case wasn't a witch-hunt

By Craig Mcmurtrie
ABC
April 10, 2020

https://www.abc.net.au/news/about/backstory/news-coverage/2020-04-11/why-the-abc-reporting-of-the-pell-case-was-not-a-witch-hunt/12137620

George Pell arriving at the Seminary Of The Good Shepherd in Sydney after his release from jail.

From the first trial that resulted in a hung jury, to a sweeping suppression order that set the national media and the courts on a collision course, the Pell case has polarised and transfixed the nation, and in light of the High Court ruling there is now opportunity for reflection.

ABC editorial policies make very clear that it is the job of the public broadcaster's journalists to report "without fear or favour, even when that might be uncomfortable or unpopular".

Cardinal George Pell himself told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse: "My own position is that you never disbelieve a complaint. But then it has to be assessed to see just whether it is valid and true and plausible. But the starting point must never be that they are disbelieved, that the allegations are taken very seriously and examined."

That is what ABC journalists have been doing and will continue to do.

The Herald Sun first reported that there was a police investigation into Cardinal Pell, but it was the ABC's Louise Milligan who met the former choirboy at the centre of the now quashed case against Cardinal Pell and it was Milligan who found and interviewed the family of the second alleged victim, who had died of a heroin overdose.

This was the most senior Catholic figure in Australia, the third most powerful man in the Vatican, in a church already rocked by a staggering number of historic child sexual abuse accusations.

It was unquestionably a legitimate story, one that had to be pursued.

And for Louise, a multi-award-winning journalist, it was the toughest assignment of her career and certainly one of the saddest.

In its decision to quash the convictions against Cardinal Pell, the High Court was largely silent on the veracity of the key witness, one of the teenage choir boys, whose identity has continued to be closely protected.

A witness who Victoria Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, a jury and two out of three Court of Appeal judges in Victoria found convincing.

Which is why some are interpreting the judgement as such a rebuke of that state's judiciary and police.

In ordering the release of Cardinal Pell, the High Court found that the evidence did not meet the required standard of proof and there was "a significant risk that an innocent person has been convicted".

Taking into account the testimony of witnesses who said Cardinal Pell wouldn't have had the opportunity to commit the offences, the judges ruled unanimously "that the jury, acting rationally on the whole of the evidence, ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant's guilt".

There's no question the High Court decision unequivocally ends the legal saga.

It can't assuage the pain and suffering of those most closely involved.

The judgement summary was published online on ABC News Digital and read out loud by news presenter Joe O'Brien on the ABC News Channel.

There was rolling coverage of the 78-year-old leaving Barwon prison, ending more than 400 days of imprisonment.

Cardinal Pell's entire statement was also published and read aloud.

"I have consistently maintained my innocence while suffering from a serious injustice," ABC audiences heard.

The Cardinal also said: "The only basis for long-term healing is truth and the only basis for justice is truth, because justice means truth for all."

The former choirboy at the centre of the quashed case said he respected and accepted the court's decision.

In a powerful public statement he said he understood "why criminal cases must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt."

He went on to say: "No one wants to live in a society where people can be imprisoned without due and proper processes. This is a basic civil liberty. But the price we pay for weighting the system in favour of the accused is that many sexual offences against children go unpunished."

This case is finished, but many legal observers expect civil action may follow and the Federal Attorney-General has indicated that he wanted to release previously redacted pages dealing with Cardinal Pell's evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

"My strong preference is to have as much of the information that has been redacted tabled with less redaction," Mr Porter told reporters.

Reporting on these matters won't be a witch-hunt either.

It will be responsible public-interest journalism.