Activist charged over surveillance which led to footage of Bradley O’Reilly allegedly raping pig
An animal-rights activist has been charged in relation to the events which led to a man being captured on camera allegedly raping a pig inside a central Victorian stockyard.
Goulburn Valley
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An animal-rights activist who allegedly installed secret cameras inside a central Victorian piggery which allegedly caught a man raping a pig has been charged by police.
The Herald Sun can exclusively reveal that Farm Transparency Project activist Siena Callender has been charged with trespassing, breaching biosecurity measures and installing an optical surveillance device into the Midland Bacon piggery at Carag Carag.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed that a 31-year-old St Kilda woman was charged by Echuca detectives following an incident in Carag Carag on February 11, 2024.
According to its website, Ms Callender, who has been a senior investigator for Farm Transparency Project since 2023, aims to “expose both farms and slaughterhouses, to bring to light the stories of those animals we deliberately silence, and act in solidarity with them in their fight for liberation by amplifying their voices and making their stories heard”.
The cameras were allegedly installed by the activist group in an attempt to catch out unethical activities in the piggery, before they stumbled upon worker Bradley O’Reilly allegedly having sex with a sow.
The Herald Sun exclusively reported that Mr O’Reilly is the son of Rick O’Reilly who manages the piggery, with Rick ‘fearing’ activists would one day enter the piggery’s premises.
At his most recent court appearance, Mr O’Reilly argued that the evidence against him was “inadmissable” due to the fact it was allegedly captured illegally.
Last year, Farm Transparency Project activists protested outside the piggery demanding the release of ‘Olivia’, the sow which was allegedly raped.
Farm Transparency Project spokeswoman Harley McDonald-Eckersall gave an exclusive statement in relation to Ms Callender’s charges.
“Midland Bacon is the site of an (alleged) horrific and sickening act of animal cruelty which was exposed because of the work of volunteers and civilian investigators who risked their own safety and liberty to bring the (alleged) abuse of Olivia to the public,” she wrote.
“While those who investigate and expose animal suffering at farms and slaughterhouses are always aware that they may be prosecuted for doing so, it is truly disappointing to see the police laying these charges while a far worse (alleged) crime remains unsolved.”
Ms Callender has been charged by the same police division that charged Mr O’Reilly.
Ms Callender, who has been a member of the activist group since 2020, will face the Echuca Magistrates’ Court on March 4.
Mr O’Reilly is due to face a hearing at the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on June 4 which will decide whether the evidence against him can be used.
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