Alleged victim sues

Man claims Pell sexually abused him in swimming pool attack

A MAN who says he was molested by George Pell as a boy in the 1970s will file a lawsuit against the disgraced cardinal in Victoria’s Supreme Court.

The suit names Pell, the trustees of the Sisters of Nazareth (formerly St Joseph’s), the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the state of Victoria.

The complainant alleges he was a victim of physical and sexual abuse while in care at Ballarat’s St Joseph’s Boys Home between February 1974 and 1978. The 50-year-old was a complainant against Pell in a trial over allegations the cardinal indecently assaulted boys in Ballarat in the 1970s. That trial was dropped by prosecutors last week, though the complainant’s matter was dropped late last year because prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to proceed.

“It took a lot of courage and soul searching to be prepared to tell my story … and eventually I was resigned to having my day in court,” the man said. “But when I was told they had withdrawn the case I felt empty and that an injustice had occurred.”

In a statement of claim, the man alleges Pell sexually abused him three or four times in a swimming pool at the home.

Pell was found guilty in December of sexually abusing two boys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne in 1996.

He continues to deny all allegations and has filed an appeal application with the Court of Appeal over his conviction.

The complainant also alleges physical abuse while at the home, including that a nun, named Sister Victoire, would hit him and one time rubbed his excrement in his face after he soiled his pants.

He also alleges he was forced to stay at the home on weekends and garden, and while living with cottage parents was forced to make mud bricks under threat of not being fed.

He is suing for medical expenses and loss of earnings, saying the abuse led to psychological and physical problems.