Cardinal George Pell, who was at one point the third most senior figure in the Catholic Church globally, has been found guilty of molesting two 13-year-old boys.
He was found guilty in December, but the news can only be reported in Australia today after a suppression order was lifted by a Melbourne court.
I am one of about eight journalists who were in the mistrial and trial of Cardinal George #Pell for the entirety of the case. Committal, mistrial, retrial. He has been found guilty of one charge of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and 4 counts of indecent assault under 16.
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) February 25, 2019
Pell was convicted of five criminal counts relating to the 1996 incidents on December 11 – and sacked from his position at the Vatican by Pope Francis the following day – but there were further legal proceedings scheduled regarding allegations dating back to the 1970s.
So the order was put in place to avoid tainting the second trial, which would have put the possibility of justice for other alleged victims at risk.
However, a court announced today that the second trial would not go ahead, and so the suppression order was lifted.
A statement from George Pell’s only living victim. The other died some years ago. pic.twitter.com/Dr77whAbu0
— Shannon Deery (@s_deery) February 26, 2019
Despite the suppression order, the news of Pell’s conviction was widely reported in outlets outside Australia back in December.
The 1996 crimes occurred while Pell was Archbishop of Melbourne.
He has maintained his innocence for decades, and a statement issued by his lawyers says that “he continues to do so”, and has lodged an appeal.
*BREAKING*: A man has yelled “Burn in Hell, Pell!” as Cardinal George Pell left court, minutes after gag orders were lifted preventing us from reporting the fact he was convicted by a jury in December of sexually abusing two 13yo choir boys @10Daily @10NewsFirst pic.twitter.com/OqKM6uPMD2
— Candice Wyatt (@CandiceWyatt10) February 26, 2019