CARDINAL George Pell's lawyer, Robert Richter QC, has apologised for describing the sexual abuse of 13-year-old choirboys as a 'plain vanilla' case.
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But the head of a central Victorian organisation supporting and helping women and children experiencing family and domestic violence said the damage had been done.
Annie North chief executive Julie Oberin said an apology could not take back the distress Mr Richter's words in court had caused sexual abuse victims.
"Yes it’s an apology but it’s too late," she said.
Mr Richter said he had spent a sleepless night reflecting on the 'terrible choice of phrase' he used during a plea hearing for the cardinal and offered his sincerest apologies to all who were hurt or offended.
"In seeking to mitigate sentence I used a wholly inappropriate phrase for which I apologise profusely to all who interpreted it in a way it was never intended: it was in no way meant to belittle or minimise the suffering and hurt of victims of sex abuse, and in retrospect I can see why it caused great offence to many," he said.
"I hope my apology is accepted as sincerely as it is meant and I will never repeat such carelessness in my choice of words."
Mr Richter came under fire after attempting to tell the court there were no aggravated features to Pell's offending using the following phrase:
"This is no more than a plain, vanilla sexual penetration case where a child is not volunteering or actively participating."
His remark was not well received by County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd, who described the five charges a jury convicted Pell of in December as brutal and callous.
"It must be clear by now I am struggling with that," Judge Kidd said in response.
Ms Oberin said it was a shame Mr Richter became aware of how damaging that statement was only after the mass backlash that followed, including criticism from Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton.
Mr Ashton told 3AW radio today police officers 'certainly don't treat them as plain vanilla offences'
"It's probably a question you'd have to ask a victim of any sexual offending, not specifically talking about this case, but more generally whether they find that term offensive and I'm pretty sure I know what answer you'd get," he said.
Pell will be sentenced on March 13 for orally raping one 13-year-old boy and molesting another after a Sunday mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in 1996.
The 77-year-old cardinal was remanded in custody on Wednesday, having decided not to apply for bail.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.
Other options include the Sexual Assault Crisis Line (1800 806 292) or the Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault (5441 0430), within business hours.
- Emma D'Agostino, with the Australian Associated Press
