A man who publicly accused Australian Cardinal George Pell of child sexual abuse has died following a long illness.
Damian Dignan, a former pupil of St Alipius' Primary School in Ballarat East, was one of two men who made allegations against the Ballarat-born Cardinal on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television program 7.30 in July 2016.
He also featured in the book, 'Cardinal: The Rise And Fall of George Pell', written by ABC journalist Louise Milligan, which has been taken off the shelves in Victoria since Cardinal Pell, 76, was charged with multiple historic sexual offences in June last year after an investigation by the Victoria Police Sano Taskforce. The Cardinal has strenuously denied the all the allegations.
Cardinal Pell, who was granted leave by Pope Francis from his role as Prefect of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy to respond to the charges, faces a four-week committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in March.
The Cardinal, who was a priest in the Ballarat diocese before his appointment as Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 and then Archbishop of Sydney from 2001-14, has maintained his innocence and says he will vigorously defend himself against the charges.
Dignan’s lawyer, Ingrid Irwin, who represented both Mr Dignan and another former St Alipius' student Lyndon Monument, told Ballarat's 'Courier' newspaper that their speaking out was integral in bringing the police investigation forward.
"Without Damian Dignan there wouldn't be anything happening," Ms Irwin said. "I saw Damian as a brave Ballarat boy and his legacy lives on.”
PICTURE: Cardinal George Pell is seen outside St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Friday, December 15, 2017 ©PA
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