EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

Premier Daniel Andrews says senior Catholics planning to visit Cardinal George Pell in jail are wrong and dismissed suggestions that the convicted paedophile did not receive a fair trial.

Mr Andrews told ABC radio on Monday morning that the church should shift its focus away from itself and onto the victims of clerical abuse.

Pell's friends include former PM John Howard, whose character reference was submitted to the court last week. Credit:Dean Sewell

The Premier’s comments came as a police officer who investigated sexual abuse in the church said the Cardinal was arrogant in his dealings with detectives.