VATICAN WILL NOT COVER LEGAL COSTS ON BEHALF OF CARDINAL PELL EXCLUSIVE
Treasurer accused of historical sex abuse cases faces legal fight in Australia with expenses that could hit millions
The Vatican will not be funding the court battles facing Australian Cardinal George Pell over accusations of historical sex abuse,
The National can confirm. But an independent trust fund has been set up to assist with the Vatican treasurer’s legal costs, which could run into millions of dollars.
From the US to Hall’s Gap, a tiny hamlet in Victoria, Australia, discreet adverts uncovered by The National have been placed in newsletters, parish notices and Catholic publications across the globe.
They start with identical wording: “A number of people are wanting to know where they can contribute to assist Cardinal George Pell with his defence costs”.
The advertisements also include bank account details of a trust fund overseen by a law firm, and an email address.
Dr Pell, 76, charged by a task force set up in June last year to investigate allegations of historical sex abuse involving religious and non-government organisations. He strongly denies the charges.
Last week Melbourne Magistrates’ Court ruled his case would proceed to a higher court, despite dropping half of the charges against him, including the more serious ones.
The cardinal, on leave from his post in Rome and living in a Sydney seminary, will face two jury trials this year at the County Court of Victoria.
A spokeswoman for Dr Pell at the Archdiocese of Sydney told
The National that an independent trust fund was set up after “many people asked how they could assist with his legal costs”.
“The archdiocese has not contributed to this fund nor has the Vatican provided any funding,” said Katrina Lee, an executive adviser.
Ms Lee said the fund had not been set up by or overseen by the archdiocese. This is the first time that the cardinal’s representatives have confirmed that the Vatican in is not contributing to the legal fight.
The lawyers in charge of the defence fund operate out of a small office in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe East.
When asked about the fund, a spokeswoman for Ferdinand Zito and Associates said: “Unfortunately and regrettably Ferdinand is unable to assist as anything relating to the cardinal comes within the ambit of legal professional privilege.”
Mr Zito attended the Melbourne private Catholic boys’ school Xavier College between 1963 and 1967. His LinkedIn page shows he is fluent in Italian and has been the principal and director of his firm for 13 years.
“My name is on the door. The buck stops at me. I take my role seriously, perform it earnestly and honestly,” it reads.
On Friday, as possible legal costs became higher after Wednesday’s confirmation of two jury trials, the Catholic Weekly in Australia published the trust fund account details for their readers.
Des Cahil, an emeritus professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, told The National it was highly likely that Dr Pell’s fund would be well supported by many conservative Catholics around the world.
“The result of these trials will dictate his future and his reputation, let alone the moral standing of the conservative right-wing faction of the Catholic community worldwide who he represents with his seniority and orthodox views,” Prof Cahil said.
It is not known how much has been donated so far from supporters around the world, other than that it has been enough for Dr Pell to engage wellknown Melbourne law firm Galbally and O’Bryan, and one of Australia’s leading criminal barristers, Robert Richter, QC.
Mr Richter, 72, is known for his brutal cross-examining and forensic research. His daily fee is said to be about A$16,000 (Dh44,330).
This means the final cost for the two trials, due to take place this year and lasting a total of 10 weeks, could easily equal the cost of a waterside mansion in Melbourne’s swanky suburb of Brighton.
That the fund has enabled the cardinal to engage the best legal experts for the controversial case has angered some, who argue it is unfair because the accusers are not legally represented during proceedings.
Ingrid Irwin, a lawyer from Ballarat who previously represented two of the accusers in the case against Dr Pell, one of whom passed away in January this year, recently received a payment from Mr Zito.
She had submitted an invoice to Dr Pell’s legal team after supplying documents as demanded by a court order from his team.
Ms Irwin told The National she believed the Roman Catholic Church did not want to be seen to be paying directly for the cardinal’s legal fight.
“He’s more than fortunate to have a trust fund paying, but who’s really paying and who’s organising the distribution of the adverts for the fund?” she asked.
“The big issue remains that the accusers have no right to a lawyer, no matter how rich they are, and he’s entitled to the best money can buy.”
The cardinal has been bailed to appear again on May 16 when a judge is expected to confirm dates for the two trials.
The accusers have no right to a lawyer and he’s entitled to the best money can buy INGRID IRWIN Lawyer