By a majority of two to one, Victoria's Supreme Court dismissed Pell's appeal ordering him to 'return to prison'.

Cardinal George Pell may have just lost his appeal against child sex abuse convictions — but his team are already likely planning one last bid for freedom.

A statement released on behalf of Australia’s most senior Catholic figure today seemingly confirmed his lawyers would take the case to the High Court.

“Cardinal Pell is obviously disappointed with the decision today,” the statement reads.

“However his legal team will thoroughly examine the judgement in order to determine a leave application to the High Court.”

Documents seeking special leave to appeal must be filed within 28 days.

However, it is not guaranteed the High Court will agree to hear the matter at all — and if that effort fails, Pell will remain in prison and will only be eligible for parole three years and eight months into his sentence.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the sensational decision to dismiss the 78-year-old’s appeal during a press conference this morning, saying the justice system “must be respected”.

“My sympathies are with the victims of child sexual abuse not just on this day, but on every single day,” Mr Morrison said.

“And as I said at the time of the earlier finding, that events like this today bring it all back. I would urge Australians to find themselves reliving these experiences to reach out to those around them, to reach out to the services that are there for them. In whatever phase of life they’re in.

“These things can take you back a long way. And so that’s where my sympathies are. The courts have done their job. They have rendered their verdict. That is the system of justice in this country and that must be respected.

“And, of course, my understanding is that this would result in the stripping of the honours that are decided externally to the government, that is a process that is done independently and that course will now follow.”

OAM

However, Mr Morrison’s comments caused some confusion, as it was previously understood that if Pell’s appeal was rejected, the Prime Minister’s office would directly ask the Council for the Order of Australia to look into stripping Pell’s Companion of the Order of Australia.

He received the honour in 2005 for service to the Catholic Church in Australia and internationally, to raising debate on matters of an ethical and spiritual nature, to education and social justice.

Mr Morrison originally indicated he would follow precedent and begin the process of potentially revoking the honour if the appeal was lost.

That would involve writing to the Council of the Order of Australia and recommending it review and revoke the honour.

A decision could then be made on its recommendation by the governor-general.

George Pell must now be stripped of his Order of Australia. There is no excuses now. — 💧Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) August 21, 2019

Governor-general David Hurley has since explained in a statement that Pell’s OAM would be revoked “once all legal proceedings have run their course” — or after a High Court appeal was concluded.

CHURCH TITLE

When Pell was first found guilty in December, he kept the title of Cardinal within the Catholic Church.

The institution originally signalled it would wait for the appeal verdict before pursuing any further action — but it has since revealed an internal investigation will be carried out by Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Depending on the outcome of that separate church investigation, Pell could be excommunicated, or dismissed or defrocked.

His five-year term as Vatican treasurer has already expired and he was booted from Pope Francis’ inner council of advisers in December.

But again, it is not known whether the investigation will begin immediately or whether it will wait upon a possible, final High Court ruling.

FATHER TO SUE

Meanwhile, the father of one of Pell’s victims, who died of a heroin overdose in 2014 at the age of 31 after being abused by him 17 years earlier, now plans to sue.

Lisa Flynn from Shine Lawyers has confirmed her client — who can’t be identified due to court orders — intended to pursue a civil claim.

“Today the court of appeal has made the correct decision by upholding the jury’s verdict which saw George Pell convicted of child sexual abuse. The disgraced cardinal is in the right place behind bars,” Ms Flynn said in a statement sent to news.com.au.

“Our client has always said that he does not want the man who he holds responsible for his son’s downhill spiral and subsequent fatal heroin overdose to ever again have contact with any members of society.

“It’s been an extremely tough wait for our client who has had to deal with the awful thought that maybe the man who destroyed his son’s life could have his conviction overturned. He shed tears of relief in the courtroom when the judgement was handed down this morning.

“The jury heard the evidence first hand from all of the witnesses, including the remaining victim, and decided that George Pell was guilty of child sex abuse beyond reasonable doubt. The court of appeal today agreed that our community representatives got it right and this sends a powerful message to all survivors of sexual abuse. You are finally being heard.

“We can only hope that this drawn out process is over once and for all and that the case does not now end up in the High Court of Australia.”

“Regardless of today’s appeal outcome, our client was always going to continue to pursue a civil claim. We will continue to fight for compensation for him. He has suffered immensely knowing what George Pell did to his son as a young choirboy.”