An Australian journalist was allegedly punched and a cameraman aggressively shoved by unidentified security personnel as Cardinal George Pell arrived at a Rome hotel to give evidence via videolink to the royal commission into institutional responses into child abuse.
On arrival at the Hotel Quirinale shortly after 7pm, local time, Pell and his entourage decided to enter through a back entrance after finding survivors of child abuse and international media gathered out the front.
A security detail sent to the back of the hotel, through the garden, found waiting media and allegedly took forceful action to prevent them questioning Pell as he approached the entrance.
Brett Mason, the Europe correspondent for SBS, told Guardian Australia he and a cameraman from Channel Nine were waiting across the street from the hotel to film the cardinal when a group of about six security officials rushed towards them and obstructed their view.
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
Their push reportedly caused the camera held by Nine’s Mark Brewer to fall to the ground.
“We haven’t made a complaint but we spoke to the commission,” Mason said, though he emphasised that he did not want the scuffle to deflect attention from the commission hearing.
Mason tweeted that “security obscured our camera crew” but did not mention the alleged altercation.
BREAKING: cardinal #pell has arrived through a back door at Royal Commission hearing in Rome. Security obscured our camera crew @SBSNews
— Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) February 28, 2016
“They were told to do that obviously,” said Brewer of the men obstructing filming of Pell’s entry into the hotel. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
It is unclear who the men were but Brewer said they were Italian.
A statement released by Pell’s office said that the incident did not involve his security staff.
“The Italian police are in charge of security outside and inside the hotel where the hearing is taking place and have been liaising with commission staff,” the statement said.
“The cardinal heard about the incident involving an SBS reporter and a cameraman just before the start of the hearing. He heard a report the two men said they were treated unnecessarily roughly and were pushed and shoved. Just before giving evidence Cardinal Pell asked a member of his team to contact the reporter to check on his wellbeing.”
The Italian police and commission staff were investigating the incident, Pell’s office said.
“Before he even got out of the car a number of big, burly security guards got out before him and they basically assaulted, I guess, for want of a better word, the [television] crew that was waiting there for him,” Channel Nine reporter Amelia Ballinger told the Sydney Morning Herald.
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
“Our cameraman was pushed over, another journalist waiting to question Pell was punched in the stomach and Pell went in without any of us being able to question him.”
Seven’s Europe correspondent, Hugh Whitfield, said security behaved “aggressively” to waiting media.
Seven News journalist Chris Reason said they were “extremely aggressive”.
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
In terms of PR, George Pell's entrance probably not the best start - back door, heavy security. Victim Anthony Foster: "we're used to it."
— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) February 28, 2016
