Melissa Davey

Australia's child sexual abuse royal commission exposed a systemic failure to respond to child sexual abuse

For too long, little children were not believed, not seen, not heard, and punished for daring to speak up. For five years Australia's child sexual abuse royal commission held the powerful people and institutions that abused them to account, putting the stories of those abused and their loved ones front and centre. The Commission's work gave us powerful, evidence-based information about abusers and those who conceal and ignore their crimes. 

Often, these crimes were brazen, committed while others adults were present and complicit, turning a blind eye. Other times, the abuse occured in private homes or secluded spaces. The Commission uncovered shocking, heartbreaking neglect. It revealed the courage of so many survivors, their lives forever changed. It provided irrefutable evidence, and among this was testimony from Cardinal George Pell.

Many people can not believe that Cardinal George Pell committed child sexual abuse himself

This disbelief has gone beyond people asking questions and holding doubts. It has led to sustained attacks on the credibility of jurors and the complainant. The legal process and the court system has been picked apart. Journalists who spent months diligently inside courtroom 4.3 of the County Court in Melbourne had their stories critiqued and discredited. 

Suppression orders were broken by those not in the room. Rumours about the case, the evidence and the verdict were given prominance in publications throughout the world. Well-known names came out to support Pell. Those discrediting the trial all had one thing in common: they were not in the entirety of the mistrial, retrial and commital hearing. Many were not in the courtroom at all.

Melissa with David Marr and Miles Martignoni outside of the County Court during recording of 'The Reckoning'.

Melissa Davey has dedicated more than five years to covering the abuse of children

When she began covering the child sexual abuse royal commission, Melissa learned along with the rest of society the lifelong and insidious nature of abuse. Her eyes were opened to the extent religious and other institutions went to excuse, dismiss, and cover up these tragic crimes. Melissa has no personal investment in or vendetta against religion or the Catholic church. 

Covering Pell's evidence to the child abuse royal commission for days straight was her first lengthy insight into the man who for years ranked among the most powerful Catholic figures in the world. By the time she covered his commital hearing and trials some years later, she had become an expert in the conditions in which child sexual abuse occurs and the impact it has on survivors. She did not walk into the court already convinced Pell was guilty of commiting these crimes himself. She sat through the entirety of his court hearings - spanning two years - disapassionately, genuinely curious, and wanting to learn the facts without bias or prejudice. Just as she did when she began her work covering the child abuse royal commission years before.

Lawyer Viv Waller, representing the complainant, outside of the County Court in Melbourne.

Melissa needs support to put all of this evidence together into one factual, forensic book that serves as the definitive read on the trial of Cardinal George Pell

Melissa's coverage of the case has been praised for being dispassionate and thorough. She is now taking leave without pay to report this case thoroughly, from beginning to end. In the face of public debate and ongoing criticism of the trial, this truth is more important than ever.

She has just three months to complete this massive task before she needs to return to work. Only part of this [six weeks] is being taken as annual leave, and the rest will be leave without pay. She is asking for financial support to help make this possible. Already, she has received kind feedback from readers and supporters and she is grateful for this. For those who can not afford to donate towards this project, she would be grateful if you could share this page with your networks and continue to offer moral and emotional support.

Thank you.

Access to court documents, research and investigation can be expensive. Melissa will also be paying some of the costs towards indexing this book. Donations will be used to recoup research costs, to cover the use of coworking space, and for extra time that may be needed for the editing and revision process. Melissa will be forgoing a salary while writing the majority of the book, and using annual leave for part.

Indexing alone costs at least $1000

Coworking space: $700/ month

Access to documents: $500+

About Melissa 

For several years Melissa Davey has been Guardian Australia's Melbourne Bureau Chief, also covering general and breaking news, child sexual abuse, family violence, medicine, social justice issues and Cardinal George Pell. 

The podcast series  'The Reckoning',  which she collaborates on with David Marr and Miles Martignoni, won two New York Festival awards and was nominated for a Walkley, as was her coverage of Pell's evidence before the child abuse royal commission. 

Melissa's Work

Inside the Pell trial

The Reckoning

George Pell:  – royal commission as it happened

George Pell commital

George Pell's conviction - the questions that remain

Melissa's website and further work