Pell hearing: Accuser's father rejects 'insult' that he 'made up' evidence
The father of one of George Pell's accusers has rejected as "an
insult" a suggestion he made up his evidence about being told his son
was allegedly sexually assaulted by the cardinal.
The father told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday he was
informed in 2015 of the separate allegations involving his son and two
priests, but conceded he never named Cardinal Pell in his statement to
police.
Robert Richter, QC, and Cardinal George Pell arrive at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Photo: AAPDefence counsel Robert Richter, QC, questioned whether the father was
ever told the allegation was against Cardinal Pell, and told the
witness: "That's an invention of yours, since July 2015, you have just
made that up after you have made your statement."
"That's an insult, no," the father replied.
"It may be an insult but it's true, isn't it?" Mr Richter said.
"Absolutely not."
The father said his son never named Cardinal Pell to him, but that
another son confirmed the allegation was against the cardinal.
The accuser's father said he didn't know the details of the alleged
offending but was "more concerned by the fact he was abused by
priests".
During the exchange, magistrate Belinda Wallington said she was
troubled by the line of questioning and highlighted that the father
spoke about "priests in the plural" in his statement.
Cardinal Pell, 76, faces multiple historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complainants and is facing a hearing in front of a magistrate to determine whether he stands trial.
Details of the charges are yet to be revealed. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The witness also hit back at Mr Richter's suggestion the father and son weren't close because the parent didn't know what treatment his son underwent in hospitals.
"That's absolutely insulting, we were a very close family ... It's totally disrespectful to say that to a father," the man said.
Ms Wallington ruled Mr Richter's question inappropriate.
The brother of another accuser told the court he once overheard his
sibling say "You don't know what's happened" and "Some f----- up stuff
has happened to me" during a car ride after a family gathering.
The brother said he put the emotional outburst down to drunkenness,
but that he and his sister later discussed the allegation with their
sibling, and told him they would support him in speaking to the
police.
After lunch, the magistrate returned visibly upset and said the court had received some "devastating news", unrelated to the cardinal's case. She adjourned the hearing for the day.
The hearing will continue next week because Friday is a non-sitting day.