Survivors fear some may not now fight

THE exoneration of Cardinal George Pell could deter abuse survivors from speaking out, a Tasmanian sexual assault advocate says.

Survivor and Beyond Abuse founder Steve Fisher said yesterday’s High Court quashing of Pell’s conviction for abusing choirboys sent a worrying message.

“Our biggest fear is that people will look at this and think, well, why bother,” he said.

“We fear people will think why bother going through that trauma when exoneration decisions like this are made.

“I really feel for the survivors, and the guys I spoke with are just devastated. They cannot believe they could go through that whole process and then have High Court judges overturn the whole process. I would encourage people to keep on fighting.”

Tasmanian Archbishop Julian Porteous yesterday said the Catholic Church in Tasmania remained committed to seeking justice for the survivors of abuse and their families.

“The Archdiocese of Hobart through its Safe Communities and Professional Standards initiative is committed to doing all that it can to protect children and the vulnerable,” he said.

“Cardinal Pell has maintained throughout the lengthy judicial process that he was not guilty of the charges laid against him, and the High Court decision vindicates his consistent claims in that regard.”

The sole living complainant who testified against Pell at trial, known only as Witness J, remained silent yesterday.

However, he is expected to release a response to the decision today.

The other boy, who has since died, denied ever being assaulted.

The father of the deceased choirboy was left in “utter disbelief” by the decision, his lawyer said.