AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Shannon Deery, Herald Sun
July 14, 2017
CARDINAL George Pell will be given no special treatment this month when he appears in court for the first time on historical sex charges.
The cardinal is due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a filing hearing on July 26, after being charged with multiple sex offences.
This means he could be forced to line up alongside other accused sex offenders, bikies, fraudsters and low-level criminals on arrival at court.
He will also be subjected to security screening on arrival.
Court spokeswoman Clare Hogarth-Angus said it would be “business as usual” despite church sources fearing for the cardinal’s safety.
Ms Hogarth-Angus said: “This may change nearer the time, however currently there are no special plans in place.”
The case is expected to draw one of the biggest press packs in Victorian court history, with international media organisations already planning their coverage.
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