AUSTRALIA
The Guardian
Melissa Davey
@MelissaLDavey
Sunday 21 February 2016
Arrangements are being made for child sexual abuse survivors to witness Cardinal George Pell give evidence in person in Rome after the chair of the commission found their request “not unreasonable”.
The third round of hearings into abuse that occurred within the Diocese of Ballarat began on Monday morning. Justice Peter McClellan opened by addressing the campaign by survivors and their supporters to go to Rome to see Pell’s evidence on 29 February.
“The royal commission has received requests from some survivors that they be able to be present in the room where Cardinal Pell give evidence in Rome next week,” McClellan said before the delivering of the opening address.
“The commission considers that to be a reasonable request. With the assistance of the Australian embassy in Rome we have located a room in a hotel in Central Rome which I am advised has the technical facilities to ensure an effective signal to Australia.”
Testing of that room would occur Monday, McClellan said. He would make an announcement on Tuesday as to the suitability of the room.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.