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. 'the medical report should not be released because it would prompt media speculation and there was no public interest to be served' Lawyers for Cardinal George Pell said he wished to give video evidence from Rome. Photo: AP The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has been told Cardinal George Pell's health could be at risk if he travelled to Australia to give evidence. His doctors in Rome had advised against a long-haul flight as it would present a "serious risk to his health". Their two-page medical report was tendered to the commission. But the full contents remain confidential at present. Allan Myers, QC, representing the Cardinal, said the medical report should not be released because it would prompt media speculation and there was no public interest to be served. However, lawyers representing people who have given evidence of child abuse against various Catholic religious orders and individuals asked that the full medical report be disclosed. In Melbourne, Paul Dwyer, on behalf of two alleged victims, said many people had been required to reveal their most intimate details to the commission and Cardinal Pell should be treated no differently. And after being permitted to read the medical report Mr Dwyer told commission chair Justice Peter McClellan there was no reason to keep it confidential as it simply showed health problems normally associated with "a man of the Cardinal's age". Mr Myers said Cardinal Pell wished to give video evidence from Rome, saying he wanted to do so as soon as possible in the interest of victims. "The Cardinal's view is that it's very important that he give his evidence as soon as may be, while the evidence of others is fresh, and he certainly wants to avoid the appearance that he's unwilling to give evidence," Mr Myers told the inquiry. Ballarat-born Cardinal Pell, chief financial adviser to the Vatican and the third most powerful man in the Catholic Church, has been called to give evidence to the commission for the third time to answer allegations he was complicit in widespread church cover-up. The commission has heard from child abuse victim David Ridsdale that Cardinal Pell tried to bribe him to keep quiet................ Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/royal-commission-george-pells-health-at-risk-if-he-travels-to-give-evidence-inquiry-hears-20160205-gmmhg2.html#ixzz3zIiWSa2r Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook