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| George Pell evidence: royal commission says victims can be present in Rome | George Pell evidence: royal commission says victims can be present in Rome |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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”. | 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 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. |
| Related: Ballarat prepares for child sexual abuse inquiry while Cardinal Pell stays away | Related: Ballarat prepares for child sexual abuse inquiry while Cardinal Pell stays away |
| “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 delivering the opening address. | “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 delivering 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.” | “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.” |
| The room would be tested on Monday, McClellan said. He would confirm on Tuesday whether it was suitable. | The room would be tested on Monday, McClellan said. He would confirm on Tuesday whether it was suitable. |
| However, McClellan did not say whether the room, if found to be suitable, would be open to the public | |
| Lawyers for Pell twice tendered medical documents to the commission that said Pell was too unwell to fly to Australia to give evidence in person due to a heart condition, and McClellan last month agreed to allow him to give his evidence from Rome. It prompted a fundraising campaign to fly victims to Rome to see his evidence. Pell has offered to meet survivors. | Lawyers for Pell twice tendered medical documents to the commission that said Pell was too unwell to fly to Australia to give evidence in person due to a heart condition, and McClellan last month agreed to allow him to give his evidence from Rome. It prompted a fundraising campaign to fly victims to Rome to see his evidence. Pell has offered to meet survivors. |
| Related: Abuse survivors welcome offer to meet George Pell, but still want to see hearing | Related: Abuse survivors welcome offer to meet George Pell, but still want to see hearing |
| The previous two Ballarat-focused hearings heard evidence that while he was an assistant priest at Ballarat East from 1973 to 1983, Pell allegedly was involved in moving a notorious pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, between parishes. | The previous two Ballarat-focused hearings heard evidence that while he was an assistant priest at Ballarat East from 1973 to 1983, Pell allegedly was involved in moving a notorious pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, between parishes. |
| Pell also worked at the parish during a period when several Catholic priests were later found to have assaulted young boys, the commission has previously heard. He has denied any knowledge of abuse occurring within Ballarat institutions while he worked there. | Pell also worked at the parish during a period when several Catholic priests were later found to have assaulted young boys, the commission has previously heard. He has denied any knowledge of abuse occurring within Ballarat institutions while he worked there. |
| Over the next fortnight, the commission’s hearings will focus on the Christian Brothers teaching community in Ballarat and the role Christian Brothers staff had in abusing children and responding to allegations of abuse. | Over the next fortnight, the commission’s hearings will focus on the Christian Brothers teaching community in Ballarat and the role Christian Brothers staff had in abusing children and responding to allegations of abuse. |
| The hearings continue. | The hearings continue. |