Ahead of tomorrow’s High Court decision on whether Cardinal George Pell is eligible to appeal his child sexual abuse conviction, Dr Cathy Kezelman AM, President of the Blue Knot Foundation, offers the following comments:
For survivors of child sexual abuse, the finding tomorrow around George Pell’s appeal to the High Court will be significant as it will again raise the very public issue of survivor testimony and legal process.
For many survivors this process has been very challenging, as it can trigger issues around their own trauma and being believed.
If the court refuses the Appeal the sentence will stand, for many this will mean that the survivor who provided testimony was believed.
However, if leave is granted, a formal Appeal will need to be lodged which will mean a further legal process and further potential trauma not only for the survivor who provided a testimony but for many others who are watching and waiting.
