Pell kept isolated in case of attacks

GEORGE Pell remains in maximum-security solitary confinement, with no immediate plans to move him to a mainstream prison.

The former archbishop of Melbourne and more recently Vatican treasurer has spent 184 days in 23-hour lockdown at the Melbourne Assessment Prison since he was taken into custody in February.

Sources close to the Cardinal say the lack of natural light and fresh air is affecting his health, and they have concerns about his deterioration.

He is serving a six-year jail sentence, with a three years and eight months minimum, for the sexual abuse of two choirboys at St Patrick’s Cathedral while archbishop in the mid-1990s.

There was speculation that Pell would be moved to a mainstream prison after the Court of Appeal last week dismissed his bid to overturn the convictions.

But sources close to Pell say a potential transfer has not been discussed with him, and he remains under the close supervision of four guards.

Pell, who turned 78 in custody, suffers from a long-term heart condition and had double knee surgery late last year.

Prison doctors expressed concerns for his health soon after he was taken into custody. They wanted him moved to either Port Phillip Prison or the Hopkins Correctional Centre at Ararat, where most of the state’s sex offenders live.

But there are fears Pell, one of the state’s highest-profile prisoners, could be attacked if not kept in isolation.

Among those concerns are the risk he could be targeted by inmates who themselves were victims of sexual abuse as children for his perceived failure to stop child abuse within the Catholic Church.

Pell was left shattered by last week’s Court of Appeal decision.

His legal team is still considering a last-ditch bid to the High Court of Australia.

Visitors have remarked that he seems far less resilient since the decision.

He had remained in good spirits because of the prospect of being acquitted, but had all but lost hope of proving his innocence.

He has spent his days praying and writing to keep busy. He is allowed visitors twice a week, and they must come from a list of approved visitors.

The list is understood to be constantly changing, with Pell recently requesting to see certain close friends.