Hectic scenes greet cardinal George Pell at first day of Melbourne preliminary hearing

CARDINAL George Pell said he had been looking forward to his day in court. But when today finally came, he was greeted by a woman who rose from her walking frame, determined to fulfil a deathbed pledge to her brother.

CARDINAL George Pell said he had been looking forward to his day in court.

Today, when the main event finally arrived, he was greeted by Valda Hogan, who rose from her walking frame and inflated to her fullest form, which might just top five feet.

She was the Australian athletic training jacket in the media mayhem, the screech in the flash of arms and cameras. She was determined to fulfil a deathbed pledge to her brother George.

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She was going to “get these buggers”. And so she roared: “George Pell, go to hell.”

Inside the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, Pell encountered a gentler reception.

An orderly queue hushed and straightened when he arrived outside court 21 at 9.15am.

Near its door lurked two believers. “Hello, Father” they echoed, as he discussed the studies of the young lawyer accompanying him.

A strong police presence looks on as cardinal George Pell arrives at a Melbourne court. Picture: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

A line of police officers accompany the cardinal into court. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Pell loped with an energy unusual for his years and medical history. He is odd angles at the knees and elbows, like a football or skier who didn’t know when to stop. His hands turn out. His feet turn in. A khaki jacket hung like a scarecrow’s afterthought. His hunch bulged when he removed his glasses to polish them.

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By then, the lawyers were wrangling over procedural matters in what surely rates among the tardiest justice systems in the free world — which would explain why the parochial oddities of this case have merited an explanation in the New York Times.

Perhaps, then, it wasn’t at all strange that the question of dogs in court was today pondered and resolved.

Dogs? Here was — as a court staffer gushed — “the biggest” case in Victoria in years.

Cardinal George Pell’s case has so far yielded few details. Picture: AFP Photo / Paul Crock

Yet it has so far yielded few details, beyond allusions to historical allegations and multiple complainants.

Much of what was open to the public — a little over 10 minutes today — swirled over the use of dogs being used for the comfort of witnesses giving evidence.

Pell’s lawyer Robert Richter QC wondered about the sight of dogs licking. Weren’t dogs mostly for kids and the elderly?

As usual, Richter framed the headlines for the day. Richter has a knack for talking points (and methodically filleting the evidence of those in the witness box).

Last year, he said that some allegations against Pell would prove “impossible”, following an earlier courtroom (and at the time legally unnecessary) announcement that his client would plead not guilty.

Robert Richter QC today slammed investigators. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Cardinal George Pell was mobbed on his arrival at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Picture: AAP Image/Luis Ascui

Today, he offered a free assessment of the police investigation into his client.

Investigators had, in effect, bungled, he said, because they did not follow guidelines. “The cardinal” was a public figure, he said, and the police had applied a “presumption of guilt”.

When the court closed again, one observer concluded that proceedings had “led us absolutely nowhere”.

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Outside, where a sign spoke of “ending 100 years of secrecy”, Hogan had again tossed aside her walking frame.

She was waiting, prowling. “Come on, George Pell, get out here,” she yelled.

She later talked about the truth. Yet Hogan — along with Pell and anyone else who looks forward to justice — may be waiting some time yet.