This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On August 20, 2019, the High Court of Australia delivered a significant verdict in the case of Cardinal George Pell, upholding his conviction for child sex abuse.
One of the key factors in the case was the testimony of the victims, who had previously been disbelieved by some in the community. Their stories were corroborated by other evidence, including the testimony of a former choirboy who died in 2014 without ever making a complaint about abuse.
Lawyer Lisa Flynn, representing the father of the deceased former choirboy in a separate civil case, expressed concern over the defense's arguments, which she said contradicted findings of the royal commission into institutional child abuse in Victoria.
“Some of the things that have been said flies in the face of a lot of the findings of the royal commission and what we know about abuse survivors,” Ms. Flynn said, highlighting the challenges faced by victims in seeking justice.
Outside the courtroom, survivors of abuse held signs condemning Cardinal Pell and expressing their relief at the outcome. One survivor, Vladimir Selakovic, said, “It gives the victims a hope, no one is above the law.”
Cathy Kezelman, president of the Blue Knot Foundation, an organization supporting people who have experienced trauma, noted that survivors have long been disbelieved and that proving their suffering can be incredibly challenging.
