George Pell demands apology over child sexual abuse claims

Cardinal George Pell has slammed allegations made about him in a new book, describing it as “character assassination” and an “interference with the course of justice”.

Lawyers representing the cardinal have demanded an apology and retraction from media outlets Fairfax and The Guardian over articles detailing the child sexual abuse claims made in ABC journalist Louise Milligan’s book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.

Published by Melbourne University Press, the book was released on Monday and includes unsubstantiated allegations against Cardinal Pell over his role in the sex abuse scandal surrounding the Catholic Church.

Last year Milligan interviewed two men who claimed Pell abused them in the 1970s when he was a priest at Ballarat.

Details of further allegations of sexual assault by Pell against choirboys in the 90s at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne are also laid out in Milligan’s book.

Cardinal Pell has always maintained his innocence and in a statement to The Australian last night, a spokesperson for the cardinal said: “Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false. The book is an exercise in character assassination.

“The decision by MUP to bring forward the publication of the book prior to any findings by the royal commission and while allegations are still under consideration by the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions is a blatant attempt to interfere in the course of justice.”

While MUP chief executive Louise Adler said the publishing house had received letters from Cardinal Pell’s representatives, no legal action had been threatened.

Read more: New book levels explosive allegations sex abuse allegations at George Pell