The son of a piggery manager is preparing to appear in court on bestiality charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a pig, as activists demand the animal be released.
Bradley O’Reilly, 30, was charged after allegedly being caught on secret camera by activists inside the Midland Bacon pig farm, where his father Ricky O’Reilly is boss.
The video shows a person with his pants down allegedly raping Pig No. 8416, now called Olivia by activists, on February 11.
Victorian detectives charged Mr O’Reilly after they were handed the video footage by Agricultural Transparency Project (FTP) activists, who allegedly broke into Midland Bacon in Carag Carag, central north from Victoria, to place the camera.
The FTP has now configured a Change.org petition demanding the release of the sow and Olivia’s campaign receives support in Instagram posts and video posts.
Activists have also organized a protest in front of the pigsty gates with banners and stuffed pigs.
Activists have organized a campaign to free pig number 8416 (above), which they have nicknamed Olivia, and have a petition demanding that the pig be released from captivity.
Pig number 8416 now has her own ‘Free Olivia’ t-shirt and activists have protested with banners and pig toys outside the pigsty to call for her release and medical treatment following the alleged assault.
Prominent animal rights activist Sophie Wilcher, who started the petition for Olivia, claims the footage shows O’Reilly assaulting the pig in a restrictive pen after the end of a work shift.
The video allegedly shows him pulling down his pants and committing the alleged sexual assault.
Sow #8416 was at the time in a farrowing crate, which deliberately confines sows during gestation and after farrowing to reduce the risk of the mother lying down and crushing her newborn piglets.
“We have made this material available on our website, along with other photographs and images of standard and routine cruelty at the same facility,” FTP said.
The camera that activists placed inside the pigsty was not intended to expose any bestiality, but rather other alleged incidents of mistreatment that the FTP was investigating.
This allegedly included killing piglets with blunt force and procedures performed by farm hands without anesthesia, such as tooth extraction, which is a legal animal practice.
The O’Reilly family are well known in the community – father Ricky is a life member of Stanhope Football Club, while defendant Brad won the club’s 2019 award for “most determined” and played there alongside his brothers.
Ricky O’Reilly, who has been piggery manager for 13 years, used to deliver Christmas hams to the local community. reported the Herald Sunand feared that activists would break in, saying it had caused him sleepless nights.
Footage taken by animal activists inside Midland Bacon in Victoria allegedly shows piggery manager Bradley O’Reilly’s son committing an act of bestiality on a pig.
Activists stormed Midland Bacon and set up cameras to record complaints of animal cruelty. The footage allegedly captured the manager’s son sexually assaulting one of the pigs.
Olivia, the sow, was allegedly sexually assaulted by pigyard manager Ricky O’Reilly’s son Brad (above) when the 30-year-old sow returned after finishing her shift in the farrowing pens.
Activists protested in front of Midland Bacon, leaving toys, tokens and notes for the pig, saying “Dear Olivia of the world.” We’re sorry. We are trying’
The petition to ‘help save Olivia’ has reached 26,300 out of 35,000 signatures and has been introduced in the Parliament of New South Wales, and may also be introduced in the Parliament of Victoria.
The petition read: “Please sign this petition to urge Midland Bacon to release pig 8416 into the care of Peanuts Well-being Sanctuary immediately.”
“Allowing him to live out the rest of his days in peace and safety is the least they can do.”
Sophie Wilcher told Daily Mail Australia that Olivia may have been moved to another pigsty owned by the same company and she wants assurances that she is being looked after.
“We have been told she is being cared for but she has received no medical care and the RSPCA says they only look after physical care and do not take into account emotional or mental wellbeing,” he said.
He had sent leaflets to 1,700 Carag Carag residents asking “have you seen this sow?” and offered a reward of $500.
Brad O’Reilly will face Echuca Local Court in June on a charge of bestiality.
