From Australia, further legal action is pending against [Cardinal Pell], this time in civil court.
Cardinal George Pell sued over claim of Ballarat swimming pool abuse
Cardinal George Pell is being sued by a man who claims he was sexually abused by him in a Ballarat swimming pool.
The man’s lawyers, Arnold Thomas & Becker, are lodging the civil suit with the Victorian Supreme Court today claiming Pell abused the man in the 1970s.
The alleged victim is seeking damages for psychiatric injury, loss of wages and medical expenses.
Victoria Police filed criminal charges relating to the alleged abuse that made it through the committal proceedings in 2018 but were dropped by prosecutors before trial.
“It took a lot of courage and soul-searching to be prepared to tell my story, accusing one of the most senior Catholics in the world of serious criminal offences, and eventually I was ready to have my day in court,” the plaintiff said.
“But when I was told they had withdrawn the case I felt empty, and that an injustice had occurred.”
In the statement of claim, the man claims damages including exemplary damages stating there is a need for general deterrence.
“The third defendant’s (Pell’s) abuse of the Plaintiff was a disgrace and was conducted in circumstances where he took complete advantage of his position of power vis-a-vis the Plaintiff and is deserving of punishment,” it states.
The man’s lawyer Lee Flanagan said he was seeking to call at least three other witnesses who would make similar separate allegations.
“There was a fourth witness, but he died after charges were laid against Pell,” Mr Flanagan said.
“We may seek to tender his statement into evidence in this case.”
Two other charges relating to allegations of sexual abuse in a pool were dropped following pre-trial argument.
The plaintiff, now 50, was a resident of St Joseph’s Boys Home at the time of the abuse.
The lawsuit is against Pell, the trustees of Nazareth House (formerly St Joseph’s), the State of Victoria and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Mr Flanagan said the damages trial was expected to begin in a year’s time and last approximately 10 days.
Pell was convicted in December of five counts of child sexual abuse relating to two choirboys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1996 and 1997.
He will be sentenced next Wednesday.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cardinal-george-pell-sued-over-claim-of-ballarat-swimming-pool-abuse/news-story/5872b2bd8e6c56b1c9e9a686212b79e9
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