Cardinal Pell: former choirboy accuser 'accepts' acquittal

'I would hate to think that one outcome of this case is that people are discouraged from reporting to the police,' he said

A man ties a ribbon in solidarity with abuse victims on the gate to the Carmelite Monastery in Melbourne on April 8, 2020, where Cardinal George Pell is staying after he was released the day before from prison after Australia's High Court quashed his conviction for abuse. AFPShow less

A former choirboy who accused Australian Cardinal George Pell of abusing him said on Wednesday that he accepted the top Vatican cleric's acquittal, but urged survivors of child abuse to keep coming forward.

A day after Australia's top court quashed Mr Pell's conviction and released him from jail, "Witness J" said he understood the court's verdict.

"There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system," said the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons. "I respect the decision of the High Court. I accept the outcome."

The court found that the jury that convicted Mr Pell of abusing Witness J and his friend, both 13 years old at the time, should have had a reasonable doubt about his guilt.

"It is difficult [in such cases] to satisfy a criminal court that the offending has occurred beyond the shadow of a doubt," Witness J said. "It is a very high standard to meet – a heavy burden."

Regardless, he said: "I would hate to think that one outcome of this case is that people are discouraged from reporting to the police.

"I would like to reassure ... survivors that most people recognise the truth when they hear it."

As many activists expressed concern that Mr Pell's case would compound survivors' pain, Witness J also said he was doing "OK" and was relieved the years-long case was over.

"I have my ups and downs. The darkness is never far away. I am OK. I hope that everyone who has followed this case is OK," he said.

"This case does not define me. I am not the abuse I suffered as a child."