Bradley O’Reilly, 30, has been charged with bestiality after allegedly sexually assaulting a pig at Midland Bacon piggery
The man accused of performing a vile act on an innocent sow at a local piggery is the son of the manager of the stockyard, who has been “worried” about animal activists.
Goulburn Valley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Goulburn Valley. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The manager of a Victorian piggery has been “fearing” that animal activists would target his property after footage of his son allegedly raping a sow emerged earlier this week.
Midland Bacon, a piggery in Carag Carag near Stanhope in central Victoria, has come under enormous national scrutiny after vision was released of a man allegedly performing a sexual act on a pig in February.
The accused man, Bradley O’Reilly, is the son of the manager of Midland Bacon Rick O’Reilly.
A local in the area, who preferred not to be named, told the Herald Sun that Rick O’Reilly had been “worried about being exposed for a number of years”.
He also said that Rick would often deliver Christmas hams to people in the local community each year.
A neighbour told the Herald Sun that Rick “had a meltdown at their house when dropping off pork roast at Christmas time.”
When asked how he was doing, Rick responded saying he could not sleep and that he was “fearing activists breaking into his piggery.”
The source also revealed that Rick was a much loved and respected Stanhope community member.
Rick is a life member of the Stanhope Football Netball Club and son Bradley plays for the local outfit.
Stanhope play in the Kyabram District Football Netball League.
According to its website, Midland Bacon piggery has been managed by the O’Reilly family for the past thirteen years.
They have six full time staff, one casual employee “as well as Rick O’Reilly and his family.”
Midland Bacon has been in operation for more than 40 years.
Rick can be seen captured in some of the CCTV footage released by the Farm Transparency Project.
Rick O’Reilly has been contacted for comment.
JD Campbell Consulting Pty Ltd based in Kerang have also been contacted for comment, which is where the Midland Bacon Piggery is addressed to according to ASIC.
Campaspe detectives became aware of the video after activists from Farm Transparency Project broke into Midland Bacon and installed cameras at the facility.
The shocking footage was aired on the ABC’s 7.30 Report on March 11.
The intention of the Farm Transparency Project was to capture legal practices deemed unethical such as clipping tails with scissors.
Harley McDonald-Eckersall, the director at Farm Transparency Project, could not believe they stumbled upon this “unexpectedly horrific act”, saying “we had no idea this kind of thing happened.”
Ms McDonald-Eckersall said the group reported the vision to the police straight away.
Ms McDonald-Eckersall also said that while what the group did was illegal and was open for prosecution, it was worth it for the greater good of capturing illegal and unethical activity to protect animals.
Ms McDonald-Eckersall also noted that the Goulburn Valley region is the “epicentre of commercial pig farming”, with the group previously uncovering the gassing of pigs at a Benalla abattoir.
Bradley has been charged with bestiality and will front the Echuca Magistrates’ Court on June 11, 2024.
A petition has started for Olivia, the sow that was allegedly raped by Bradley, to be released from the Midland Bacon piggery into the care of Peanuts Well-being sanctuary in NSW.
Pub charged with serving alcohol to under-18s
A Shepparton pub allegedly served alcohol to minors as well as allowing them into gaming areas.
Yea residents confront alleged thief at petrol station
After Yea residents filmed a confrontation with a man who allegedly stole a trailer and camping equipment, police have charged him with a string of drug, weapons and other offences.