Pell's appeal has been denied, what's next for the disgraced priest?

UPDATE: On 7 April 2020, the High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences and acquitted him of the charges. The High Court unanimously found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction and that the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.  

Disgraced Cardinal George Pell will return to prison for child sex crimes after a Victorian court rejected his appeal at a dramatic hearing today.

He has one further avenue of appeal, to the High Court of Australia. It was not immediately clear if he would take his case to the country's highest court.

A spokesperson for the cardinal said in a statement that George Pell was "obviously disappointed" with today's decision.

"His legal team will thoroughly examine the judgement in order to determine a special leave application to the High Court," the statement read.

In a split decision of 2-1 judges, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the County Court jury that found Pell guilty on five child sex abuse charges last December.

The most senior member of the Catholic Church to be convicted for historical child sexual abuse offences looked solemn as the decision was read out in court, and broadcast live on television. One witness described the 78-year-old priest as appearing "destroyed".

Pell has spent about 170 days in prison, and has strongly denied the charges.

His jail term of six years stands after today's ruling, and he must serve three-years-and-eight months before he is eligible for parole.

Shortly after he was convicted, Pell was stripped of his position as the Vatican's chief financial officer and expelled from Pope Francis' inner circle of trusted cardinals.

The Vatican is expected to release a statement in the coming hours.

The full bench of the Supreme Court handed down its majority verdict with Chief Justice Anne Ferguson and President of the Court of Appeal Chris Maxwell finding against Pell, while Justice Mark Weinberg dissented and found for the cardinal's acquittal.

What next for the disgraced priest?

 It's unclear where Pell will be taken as he continues to serve his sentence.

The cardinal has spent the past five months at the Melbourne Assessment Prison after being convicted.

Pell is a considered high risk prisoner and there have been many threats against him, so it is very likely he will continue to serve his sentence in isolation from most other inmates.

If he stays at the Melbourne Assessment Prison it is likely he will remain on level five where high risk prisoners - like the Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas – are housed.

Corrections Victoria will make a decision in the coming days where to house Pell.

High Court appeal

Pell has one further avenue of appeal, to the High Court. The High Court must agree to hear any application for an appeal.

Pell has previously said that he won't appeal against his sentence.

In March, Pell's legal team said he would not seek a shorter prison time if the Court of Appeal upheld his convictions.

Pell to be stripped of Order of Australia

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra his sympathies lay with the victims of child sexual abuse, not just today but "on every single day".

"My understanding is that this (appeal loss) would result in the stripping of the honours that are decided externally to the government," Mr Morrison said.

"That is a process that is done independently, and that course will now follow."

He urged all Australians who find themselves reliving their abuse as a result of the public attention given to the Pell case to "reach out to those around them, to reach out to the services that are there for them".

"The courts have done their job. They've rendered their verdict," he said.

"That's the system of justice in this country and that must be respected." 

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