CARDINAL George Pell will give video link evidence from Rome at a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing in Sydney at the end of this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cardinal Pell will give evidence via video-link from The Vatican on Monday, February 29 at a time to be set.
Commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan announced the decision at a directions hearing in Sydney today.
The inquiry heard Cardinal Pell suffered from hypertensive heart disease, cardiac dysfunction and respiratory difficulties and was at risk of heart failure if he was forced to fly to Australia from Rome.
"Having regard to the nature of his aliments it could not be expected that his health is likely to improve and remove those risks,” he said. "Although it remains preferable that he gives evidence in Australia, when the alternative that he give evidence by video link is available the commissioners are satisfied that course should be adopted."
Justice McClellan decided his medical report would not be made public despite requests from victims’ lawyers.
Terminally ill former Ballarat bishop Ronald Mulkearns will also give evidence via video-link at a location and date to be determined.
Medical evidence tendered to the child sex abuse inquiry from Bishop Mulkearn’s specialist, Doctor David Fonda, detailed the bishop suffered anxiety, cognitive problems, his memory was poor, he had a tumour in his pelvis, difficulty sleeping, colon cancer, was in chronic pain and was terminally ill with a life expectancy of months.
The inquiry also heard the bishop feared as a consequence of his health conditions he may be seen as a “hostile or unreliable witness.”
The inquiry was also told Bishop Mulkearns may only be able to answer “yes, no or I don’t recall” to most questions and would require assistance from his lawyers in answering and understanding questions.
Paul O’Dwyer SC, appearing for some of the abuse victims, questioned the medical conditions which precluded the Cardinal from travelling safely to Australia but was told by Justice McClellan the decision had been made.
Ballarat clergy abuse survivor Andrew Collins said it was a win Bishop Mulkearns would be giving evidence but he voiced frustration about Cardinal Pell’s inability to travel to Australia to face the child sex abuse inquiry in person.
He said the victims will now be in Sydney the week after the Ballarat hearings to face Cardinal Pell.
“We respect the rulings of the Commission and now we can plan ahead and prepare,” Mr Collins said.
More details to come.
