Australian media in Rome to cover Cardinal George Pell‘s appearance before the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse via video link have allegedly been shoved, punched, and otherwise treated with heavy-handed tactics by members of Cardinal Pell’s security team.
As per reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, a number of “big, burly security guards” assaulted the television crew waiting for Cardinal Pell outside the hotel, before he even got out of the car; one cameraman was allegedly punched in the stomach, while another was pushed over.
Channel 7 reporter Chris Reason called the security team “extremely aggressive” in a tweet, confirming that Italian police are reviewing video footage of Cardinal Pell arriving to ensure the guards were acting in a legal manner.
George Pell arrived via a side gate, security team extremely aggressive, swept media aside
— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) February 28, 2016
Now Italian police are reviewing video of George Pell’s arrival – checking whether the private security were acting legally
— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) February 28, 2016
His colleague Hugh Whitfeld tweeted similar:
Pell’s heavies aggressively push media away as he arrives to give evidence before victims in Rome. #royalcommission
— Hugh Whitfeld (@hughwhitfeld) February 28, 2016
Cardinal Pell has arrived at Hotel Quirinale .. His security manhandling/shoving Aus TV camera #royalcommission pic.twitter.com/Q4OTgNWMY3
— Hugh Whitfeld (@hughwhitfeld) February 28, 2016
Italian Police reviewing Aus TV vision after Pell’s heavies strong arm media outside #royalcommission in Rome. pic.twitter.com/ObHOq1uWdd
— Hugh Whitfeld (@hughwhitfeld) February 28, 2016
So not a *great* start, then. Meanwhile, abuse survivors have also arrived, with one, Anthony Foster, responding to Cardinal Pell’s back door arrival and heavy-handed security team with the quip, “We’re used to it.”
UPDATE: anyone wishing to live stream Cardinal Pell giving evidence can do so HERE.
Source: Fairfax.
Photo: Hugh Whitfeld / Twitter.
